Dear all,

Я бы не рекомендовал использовать выражение 'to say the truth' - очень режет
слух.
Классическое 'to tell the truth' = "по правде сказать" - звучит замечательно.

И к правилу о 'not to use BUT at the beginning of the sentence' я бы добавил

'don't use AND at the beginning of the sentence'.
Но, между нами говоря, в разговорной речи эти правила всегда нарушаются (these
rules are always broken).

Best wishes,
Сергей Грушко

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Tuesday, January 20, 2004, 8:17:49 PM, you wrote:

DMA> Thanks to teachers:
DMA> Ira from Novosibirsk (advanced)
DMA> Margarita from Lviv (advanced)

DMA> To teach is the best way to learn?

Denis, you're flattering ;-) I'm afraid I wasn't much higher than
upper-intermediate when I really tought (I gave up teaching more than
half a year...). And I really don't have any hope to find here a way
to learn, just to refresh. Maybe just a little (I've just remembered
'Docendo discimus' ;-).

However I'll be happy to be helpful here (what a bad habit to teach!))))

--
wbr,
Filkovska
mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru

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You can say either 'to say the truth' or 'to tell the truth' = "по правде
сказать" - both of the readings are correct ;)

Best wishes,
~Kir

-----Original MessageFrom: Ira Filkovska [mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 7:06 PM
To: Kirill
Cc: 707691-job.lang.vmeste-list@subscribe.ru
Subject: Re[2]: conversation

Tuesday, January 20, 2004, 5:59:29 PM, you wrote:

K> I'll have a try. The corrections are below in square brackets. To say the
K> truth, I have found the only one.
K> ~Kir

btw, the impression is "to tell the truth", not 'say'.

wbr,
Filkovska

--
mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru

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Thanks to teachers:
Ira from Novosibirsk (advanced)
Margarita from Lviv (advanced)

To teach is the best way to learn?

My lesson:
* Don't use "But" in the beginNing of the sentence.
* Use indefinite article "a" to express the meaning of subject
qualification.
* UN-IN-IM-problem
* then/than

Best regards,
Denis

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You can say either 'to say the truth' or 'to tell the truth' = "?? ??????
??????" - both of the readings are correct ;)

Best wishes,
~Kir

-----Original MessageFrom: Ira Filkovska [mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 7:06 PM
To: Kirill
Cc: 707691-job.lang.vmeste-list@subscribe.ru
Subject: Re[2]: conversation

Tuesday, January 20, 2004, 5:59:29 PM, you wrote:

K> I'll have a try. The corrections are below in square brackets. To say the
K> truth, I have found the only one.
K> ~Kir

btw, the impression is "to tell the truth", not 'say'.

wbr,
Filkovska

--
mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru

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Tuesday, January 20, 2004, 8:34:35 PM, you wrote:

VE> Hi everybody,
VE> In my opinion, this maillist can help to learn writing English above all.
VE> Mistake correction and discussion of problems isn't a bad method of English
VE> study.
VE> Best regards,
VE> Valerie

I disagree...
I'm sorry for my pessimism (as u can call it), but...
What this maillist can help us in is just a little of refreshing if
what we've already known but starting to forget... Some words,
collocations and a couple of structures...
Maybe somebody can find here some things they didn't know about
before, but I'm not sure they'll remember it and will be able to use
in future. It's not the way to STUDY the language nor even a way to
practice it chatting, because it has no goals but to talk in English.
Everybody underastands that we'd much better and effectively
communicate in Russian, it's UNNATURAL for Russian people in Russia to
communicate in some other language. If there somebody not-Russian was
here, that could work. Unless we've got no motivation which's the most
important for doing anything and particularly studying a foreign
language.

well, of course we can try.
For this, we need at least some topic having no connection to
learning, for example "Is Santa really exist?" or anything else.

--
wbr,
Filkovska
mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru

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Hi everybody,
In my opinion, this maillist can help to learn writing English above all.
Mistake correction and discussion of problems isn't a bad method of English
study.
Best regards,
Valerie

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Ok, a bit of corrections.

K> Dear Margarita,

K> Why do you think there is no need in putting 'A' before 'good decision'?
K> Decision is a countable noun here (decision = as the result of deciding).

K> Regards,
K> Kir

Kir's right ;-)
Indefinite article 'a' is needed in that case, because one of the first
articles usage rules studied is that 'a' is used to express the
meaning of subject qualification. What exactly we can see in the
sentence: decision/idea to write in English is qualified as a good one.

And a little aboute Margarita's message.
[skipped]

K> I would correct a little more. Lets begin with style.
THE style. We're speaking about definite style of definite message
here.

K> Try to avoid using BUT in the begining of the sentence, its sounds
K> innaturally.
UNnaturally (in- misprint?)

K> I wouldn't also use A before good decision
K> Than we should rewrite sentence like this:
'thEn' means 'after', not 'thAn' which's used in comparison
--
wbr,
Filkovska
mailto:filkovs***@n*****.ru

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Some more corrections from me (below in [ ...] ;)

~Kir

-----Original MessageFrom: Margarita Igonova [mailto:margarita.igono***@t*****.lv]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:34 PM
To: job.lang.vmeste (3611078)
Subject: abt studying

Hi Helena,

I am [AN] advanced student in English, prepearing[TO] take TOEFL very soon.
As I
already said - you will have [you'd better say 'get'] nothing without
practise. Personally I highly
recommend ['you' - it's a transitive verb] to study with [A] native speaker,
even if you believe you are not
quite ready for that. When you are experiencing situation when you cannot
use russian words (well, you can, but nobody will understand), you will
start to use words, that are in your passive vocabulary. So, that way, they
will finally become your active vocabulary.
Just listen [you should use a gerund form 'LISTENING' or infinitive 'TO
LISTEN'] (movies, music, radio) will give you nothing. All you will
improve (very unlikely, though) is your passive vocabulary, and it is
nothing in common with your actual knowledge.

BR,
Margarita

you wrote:
Hello ,everybody! I'am new member of this list. I want to join your
conversation, if you don't mind. I understand, almost every member of
the list is beginner at English study. If I'm wrong,correct me,please. I
like
the idea to write in English, I think it is more effective than to
study English alone. It makes you to move your brain. I would like to
advise all beginners to try to write their letters only in English, I
mean not to use Russian words. Take the words from dictionaries, it is
exellent method to supplement your vocabulary and knowledge. It is easier to
remember
the words you use more frequently. Best regards, Helena.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2004, 5:59:29 PM, you wrote:

K> I'll have a try. The corrections are below in square brackets. To say the
K> truth, I have found the only one.
K> ~Kir

btw, the impression is "to tell the truth", not 'say'.

wbr,
Filkovska

Kir, I don't know. For me articles is quite a hard theme, i believe you just
need to feel them. So I feel it's useless there. Maybe I am wrong...

Original Message From: "Kirill" <kir@c*****.org>
To: "job.lang.vmeste (3103031)" <margarita.igono***@t*****.lv>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: conversation

Dear Margarita,

Why do you think there is no need in putting 'A' before 'good decision'?
Decision is a countable noun here (decision = as the result of deciding).

Regards,
Kir

-----Original MessageFrom: Margarita Igonova [mailto:margarita.igono***@t*****.lv]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:43 PM
To: job.lang.vmeste (3611078)
Subject: Re: conversation

I would correct a little more. Lets begin with style.
Try to avoid using BUT in the begining of the sentence, its sounds
innaturally.
I wouldn't also use A before good decision
Than we should rewrite sentence like this:
It's good idea to write in English. Who do you think could correct
our mistakes?

BR,
Margarita

Original Message From: "Kirill" <kir@c*****.org>
To: "job.lang.vmeste (3103031)" <margarita.igono***@t*****.lv>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: conversation

I'll have a try. The corrections are below in square brackets. To say the
truth, I have found the only one.
~Kir

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Dear Margarita,

Why do you think there is no need in putting 'A' before 'good decision'?
Decision is a countable noun here (decision = as the result of deciding).

Regards,
Kir

-----Original MessageFrom: Margarita Igonova [mailto:margarita.igono***@t*****.lv]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:43 PM
To: job.lang.vmeste (3611078)
Subject: Re: conversation

I would correct a little more. Lets begin with style.
Try to avoid using BUT in the begining of the sentence, its sounds
innaturally.
I wouldn't also use A before good decision
Than we should rewrite sentence like this:
It's good idea to write in English. Who do you think could correct
our mistakes?

BR,
Margarita

Original Message From: "Kirill" <kir@c*****.org>
To: "job.lang.vmeste (3103031)" <margarita.igono***@t*****.lv>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: conversation

I'll have a try. The corrections are below in square brackets. To say the
truth, I have found the only one.
~Kir

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Little more corrections, if you don't mind.

I LIKE VERY MUCH - just remember and use with following sequence.
AS I AM - never forget verb in the sentence
FOR THAT - I don't know why, but you should use THAT here instead of IT :)
MISTAKE CORRECTION - just sounds more naturally
SO:
I like very much your idea about mistakes correction . I think the
beginners (as I am) will be especially grateful for that.

I have to admit, that you have quite a high level of English for the one who
began studying 2 month ago:)

have a nice eve,
Margarita

Original Message From: "Mantea, Andrei" <AMant***@U*****.com>
To: "job.lang.vmeste (3103031)" <margarita.igono***@t*****.lv>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: Advice.

Hello,

I began to study English two months ago.
I very much liked your idea about correction of mistakes, I think the
beginners (as I) will be especially grateful for it.

There is a web site (http://enative.narod.ru/theory/manuals.htm) where it
is possible to download the manuals for the English language (I has liked
the book of Кутузов).

-----Original MessageFrom: svetlana [mailto:princess20***@m*****.ru]
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 1:22 PM
To: job.lang.vmeste
Subject: Re: Advice.

Hello everybody,
I think it is a good idea to use words you don't know from the
dictionary but there is a problem: at the beginner level people can
make mistakes with the proper meaning of the words. For example
say-talk-speak-tell. Very often beginners mix the meaning. But I
must outline again that your idea is not bad at all.
When I began to study English I wrote down every word on the papers
and then look them through, I also wrote stories with unknown words
to remmeber them better.
So I have a question to all, what if we correct each other? If you
don't mind of course.

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Hi Helena,

I am advanced student in English, prepearing take TOEFL very soon. As I
already said - you will have nothing without practise. Personally I highly
recommend to study with native speaker, even if you believe you are not
quite ready for that. When you are experiencing situation when you cannot
use russian words (well, you can, but nobody will understand), you will
start to use words, that are in your passive vocabulary. So, that way, they
will finally become your active vocabulary.
Just listen (movies, music, radio) will give you nothing. All you will
improve (very unlikely, though) is your passive vocabulary, and it is
nothing in common with your actual knowledge.

BR,
Margarita

you wrote:
Hello ,everybody! I'am new member of this list. I want to join your
conversation, if you don't mind. I understand, almost every member of
the list is beginner at English study. If I'm wrong,correct me,please. I
like
the idea to write in English, I think it is more effective than to
study English alone. It makes you to move your brain. I would like to
advise all beginners to try to write their letters only in English, I
mean not to use Russian words. Take the words from dictionaries, it is
exellent method to supplement your vocabulary and knowledge. It is easier to
remember
the words you use more frequently. Best regards, Helena.

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