No. 291 GET A SHOT

You had a vaccination of flu 今週のよくある英語の間違い:
  • 「the flu」とは…?
  • You had a vaccination of flu
  • Your stomach is broken
  • 語彙ポイント: UPSET
  • “S or TH” answer (click here) (music from bensound.com)
Co-host: Keiko

The more, the merrier!

Use the toilets shown below when crowded.

X Use the toilets shown below when crowded.

Tim says:

After the word “when,” this sign doesn’t explain what would be crowded that would require you to use the toilets shown below. Therefore, we can only assume that it would be… the toilets shown below! “Use the toilets shown below when they are crowded.” In other words, 「以下のトイレが混雑した時、以下とトイレをご利用ください」!

Of course, that doesn’t make any sense. This sign was posted outside of a different set of restrooms, and it means if these restrooms are crowded, use other ones that you can find on the map of the shopping mall.

O If these toilets are crowded, use the others as shown on the map below.

周囲にある英語を見て、果たしてそれが正しい英語なのだろうかと感じる英語はありますか?「あの英語は絶対に間違っている」という英語の表記はありますか?看板の写真を撮って、Machigai.comに送りましょう!とんでもない英語だったら、このコーナーで出します!

Quiz No. 514

この文章を英語にしてください。(辞書を使ってはいけません!)

彼がずっとホースを踏んでいた。

次のクイズは2月1日(水)です。

This site will always respect your personal information.

Entering your e-mail address will allow this form to send a copy of your answer back to you.

このコーナーは毎週水曜日です!

No. 290 HEALTH

apples are good for you 今週のよくある英語の間違い: Co-host: Keiko

Everyone gets two cups

Please put back when you got several cups

X Please put back when you got several cups.

Tim says:

The first part of this sentence is a bit puzzling. Put what back? “Put” should always have a direct object (直接目的語); of course, in this case, that would be “cups”.

“When” indicates that taking too many cups is something that is to be expected, as if it happens every time. But (hopefully) it doesn’t always happen. Since it’s just a possibility and not a certainty, we should use “if” rather than “when”.

“Got” is strange for two reasons: 1. it’s past tense, and 2. “take” would be a better verb in this case. So “if you get several cups.”

Remember, I said that we need to say “please put the cups back” because a direct object is necessary with “put”? But “Please put the cups back if you take too many cups” is not a good sentence; it has “cups” in it twice. If we want to change one to a pronoun, we could say “if you take too many of them.” But it’s a little bit shorter and smoother to switch the two parts of the sentence:

O If you take too many cups, please put them back.

周囲にある英語を見て、果たしてそれが正しい英語なのだろうかと感じる英語はありますか?「あの英語は絶対に間違っている」という英語の表記はありますか?看板の写真を撮って、Machigai.comに送りましょう!とんでもない英語だったら、このコーナーで出します!

Quiz No. 513

この文章を英語にしてください。(辞書を使ってはいけません!)

石を足の指に落とした。

次のクイズは1月25日(水)です。

This site will always respect your personal information.

Entering your e-mail address will allow this form to send a copy of your answer back to you.

このコーナーは毎週水曜日です!

No. 011 CARS

a car's handle 今週のよくある英語の間違い: Co-host: Kazumi Sashida 2006年11月21日の再放送

Gone too soon

Memorial Christmas

X Memorial Christmas

Tim says:

Here’s one more sign I saw during the recent Christmas shopping season… This mall is celebrating its first anniversary, and apparently wanted to say 「記念」 in English. But “memorial” is usually used when we remember something that happened in the past, or someone who isn’t alive anymore! Is this a funeral?!

Yes, the opening of this mall was in the past, but it’s still open now. “Commemorative” would be better… but saying that Christmas commemorates something other than the birth of Jesus still sounds rather strange.

Maybe this is the best way:

O Anniversary at Christmas

周囲にある英語を見て、果たしてそれが正しい英語なのだろうかと感じる英語はありますか?「あの英語は絶対に間違っている」という英語の表記はありますか?看板の写真を撮って、Machigai.comに送りましょう!とんでもない英語だったら、このコーナーで出します!

Quiz No. 512

この文章を英語にしてください。(辞書を使ってはいけません!)

スキーコースに行くのは好きです。

次のクイズは1月18日(水)です。

This site will always respect your personal information.

Entering your e-mail address will allow this form to send a copy of your answer back to you.

このコーナーは毎週水曜日です!

No. 289 CAT

I like cat 今週のよくある英語の間違い:
  • What? You like cat?! How terrible!
  • You like a cat? Only one cat?
  • 語彙ポイント: 「お肉」(なぜ「I eat cow」ではなく「I eat beef」と言いますか?)
  • “S or TH” answer (click here) (music from bensound.com)
Co-host: Saya