2008年1月11日
Another story
Hi Team,
How are your diets going? Mine is going really well! I'm down to about 77.5 kg now, which is still too fat, but I feel a lot better than I did before Christmas. I have been eating only healthy food, (no chocolate or sweet things) and I have lots more energy. How are you all getting on? Are you sticking to your New Year's resolutions? I don't know why, but there are times when it is really easy for me to diet, and other times when it is impossible. For some reason, it is really easy for me at the moment, so I'm going to make the most of it.
I took my bike to the shop on Wednesday, and it turned out that the problem was just a faulty spark plug, so it only cost a few hundred yen to get it fixed. I'm looking forward to getting out on it again at the weekend.
I had classes again this week, but now I only have 3 more classes before the tests start. Once the tests are over, I will have lots of time to focus on my new book. I will be asking you to give me some feedback on parts of that in the very near future.
I have one more story about a nice person, but I'm not sure if he was really nice or not. What do you think?
I was in Chiba for a teaching conference, and when it had finished, I took a taxi to the station. I got out of the taxi and went into the station to buy a ticket, but I couldn't find my wallet. I searched through my bag, but I realized that I must have left it in the taxi. The problem was that I couldn't remember the name of the taxi company, so I wasn't sure what to do. I sat down on a wall, and as I was trying to decide what to do next, I saw the taxi driver coming around the corner holding my wallet. He said his next customer found it in the back of his car, and he thought I might still be in the station, so he came back to look for me.
I was very relieved, and I thanked him and said that I wanted to give him some money to pay him for his time. I looked in my wallet, but there wasn't any money in it. I couldn't remember whether there had been any money in it before, but anyway, I wasn't worried about that. I said, "If you come with me, I will find an ATM so that I can give you some money." I expected him to say, "It's okay! Don't worry about it!", but he just said, "OK. Let's go." When we got to the ATM, I said, "Will 5000 yen be okay?" Again, I expected him to say, "Oh, that's too much.", but he just said ありがとう and took the money.
If I had not got my wallet back, I would have been in real trouble, but I was surprised that he took so much money. What do you think - was he a nice guy or not?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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Comments
Hi David and everyone,
Was he a nice guy or not? Hmm...Partly you were lucky that your wallet was back to you,(it could be worse)in that sense, he was a nice guy. BUT WHERE WAS YOU MONEY? And I can't believe he took the money. Actually if someone find money on the road or other places, and take it to the police station, the person who lost it are expected to give about 10 percent of total amount to express his /her thanks. But this is not the case. If I were the taxi driver, I don't receive the money and would say "It's good I could find your wallet". It happened while he was working! So I'm not sure he is a nice guy or not. Any way 5000 yen is too much, because there was no money in it as ayako said.
Hi Ayako,
A Happy New Year!
PS: My diet is going really in a slow pace, but down a little bit.
Bye for now,
Anne
- Anne
- 2008年1月11日 23:40
Hi Anne,
Thank you for sharing your story! I agree with you. I think that "困ったときはお互いさま" is really nice expression. And I also like this one; "お蔭さま".
Hi Ayako,
I'm glad to hear from you!
Hi David,
It is nice to know that your bike doesn't have a big problem. Have a good weekend!
I will write about David's story later.
Maki
- Maki
- 2008年1月11日 23:47
Hi David
Maybe the driver was a kindly man, but he shouldn't have taken the money, and you didn't need to give the money.
As Ayako said, all you had to do was only say your thanks.
Hi Everyone,
I have a question.
"would"をうまく使うことができません。
今のところ理解している"would"の使い方は、"Would you ～""I would like ～""I would like to ～"と、"will"の過去形だけです。
これ以外での使い方がよくわかりません。
辞書には、「～かもしれない」という意味での使い方が載っていますが、"might"とは何が違うのでしょうか？
また、「～したものだった」という意味で使うときは、"used to"と何が違うのでしょうか？
新年早々、またまた初歩的な質問ですみません。
考えれば考えるほど混乱してしまうんです(T T)
Hi Anne and Maki,
I agree with you.
「困った時はお互いさま」、いい言葉ですよね！
Hi Ayako,
A Happy New Year!
今年もよろしくお願いします＾＾
PS. It is very hard for me to diet (I can't cut out sweets!), but I have lost a bit of weight.
See you soon,
Amica
- Amica
- 2008年1月12日 14:21
Hi Team,
David, I don't think he was a nice guy. He was kind to bring your wallet back for you, but he took 5000 yen in return? I can't believe that! I don't understand how he could say "OK. Let's go." For me, he was NOT a nice guy.
Of course I'm sticking to my New Year's resolution. Although it has been only about a week since I started, my diet is also going well, and my weight has started to lose. I'm eating less dinner(I'm trying to not to eat after 6 or 7 p.m.), and doing some exercise every day, but I eat chocolate or sweet things. I like the way of diet with no stress because it is easy to keep going;-)
Hi Ayako,
I'm happy to see your comment! Did you have a good holiday?
Hi Amica,
About your question, my understandings are below;
助動詞の 'will, can, may' は過去形にすると（過去のことでなくても時制を1つ下げると）、その可能性を下げたり、控えめな表現になるのは知ってますか？ 例えば・・
・I will say... (私なら～と言うわ。）
・I would say... (私だったら～と言うかな。）
・It can be dangerous. (危険なこともあるよ。）
・it could be dangerous. （危険なこともあるかもね。）
・I may be wrong, but.. (間違ってるかもしれないけど・・)
・I might be wrong, but.. (もしかしたら間違ってるかもしれないけど・・)
'may' の可能性としては半々（50%)、'might' と過去形にして可能性を下げたらどのくらい？ 難しいね(笑) 30%位って書いてある本も見たことがあるけど、Davidの本によると、『might の方が may より少し低い確率を表すこともありますが、言葉の選択よりも言い方(イントネーション)の方が重要だと思います。 ｢may/might の意味をパーセンテージで表して」と言われても、とても困ります。』 とあるので、そんなに気にしないで使った方がいいかも。 私達も日本語で話すとき、確立のパーセンテージを思い浮かべて言葉を選んだりしないしね(笑)
*would と might なら、would の方が確率が高いです。
'would' と 'used to' の違いは・・、これもあんまり悩まない方がいいかも。 どっちも｢前(昔)は～した｣という意味で使えるけど、これもDavidの本によると、'would' を使うのは習慣的な‘行動’に対してのみで、例えば｢昔は髪が長かった｣みたいな昔の‘状態’には使えない、ということです。 あと、'would'は特に懐かしい話をする時に使うそうです。 私の持ってる文法書には『would - 不規則的な過去の習慣を表す、used to - 常習的な過去の習慣を表す』なんて書いてあるけど微妙でしょ？ だから‘昔の状態’の時は 'used to' だけ、あとはどっちもOKって覚えたらどうかな？ ちなみに私は「～したものだった」の意味の 'would' は使ったことがなくて、いつも何にでも使える 'used to' を使っちゃうんだけど、would を使った方が｢昔は～したのになぁ・・。｣なんてしみじみした感じが出せるのかもしれないね。
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your get-well messages for my daughter. I hope she gets better soon, but.. う～ん、まだまだ・・という感じです。 でもピークは越えつつあるかな・・。
Have a great weekend and see you soon,
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2008年1月12日 19:58
Hi Tomo,
Thanks for explaining!
"助動詞の 'will, can, may' は過去形にすると（過去のことでなくても時制を1つ下げると）、その可能性を下げたり、控えめな表現になる"
I didn't know it!
used toは私もしばらくはこっちを使うことにします（笑）
By the way, you are trying to not to eat after 6 or 7 p.m.!?
The way is one of the good way to success of diet.
I want to do it, but I have to have my dinner after 8 p.m. because my work usually finish at about that time.
I'm doing some exercise every day, too.
でもチョコレートの誘惑には勝てませんよねぇ（＾＾；）
Amica
- Amica
- 2008年1月12日 21:33
Hi Everyone,
Are you having a good week-end?
David, I think that he was nice to be back your wallet at that point. But I agree with Ayako. He shouldn't have expected anything in return and it is OK that you only said, "Thank you so much for your kindness." I was very surprised that he went to the ATM with you and took the money! I can say that he isn't nice.
Hi Tomo and Amica,
私もたいてい"used to"を使ってしまいます。;-)
Tomo, hope you daughter gets well soon.
Maki
- Maki
- 2008年1月12日 22:35
Tomo and Amica,
Tomo、‘would’の説明をありがとう！ ‘used to’ と ‘would’もわかりやすく適切にまとめてくれて感謝です。Amica、Tomoの言うとおり、とりあえずは ‘used to’ を使いこなせればいいと思いますよ。
わたしも used to と would はうまく使いこなせてるかどうかわからないけど、なんとなく would の使いどころがわかってきた気はします。でも、説明するのは難しいんですよねえ。たぶんいろんなアプローチがあって、どれも同じことを違う観点で説明しようとしてると思うんですよね。わたしもがんばって考えてみました。以下はわたし的考え方です。
基本的に‘used to’は「過去の状況／過去によく行っていた行動」 、‘would’は「過去の具体的な状況においてよくとった行動」を表す、と思います。
例えば、‘play tennis’は行動ですが、「昔はテニスしていたんですよ」なんていうときには ‘I used to play tennis.’となります。でも、例えば、学生時代の話をするなかで「週末は朝早くからテニスをしたなあ」なんてときは ‘On weekends, we would play tennis early in the morning.’と‘would’を使うのではないでしょうか。‘would’を使うのは、昔の話だとわかっている文脈、「あんなときにはこうした」という具体的な状況がついてくることが多いと思います。また‘often/sometimes’ などの言葉ともよく使われます。
だから実際の使われ方としては、ある話題のスタートが「昔は～だった／してたんだよ」と‘used to’ではじまり、「あんなことをしたもんだ、よくこんなことがあったなあ」と具体的な行動について話すときには‘would’が出てくることが多いと思います。文法書ではこれを‘常習的な過去の習慣’‘不規則的な過去の習慣’と説明し、デビッドが言う「‘would'は特に懐かしい話をする時」というのもそういうことじゃないかと思うんです。
どうでしょうか？
Ayako!
I'm so happy to see you :-)
- Lily
- 2008年1月13日 10:13
Tomo and Lily,
ありがとう！
なんとなく理解していても説明するのは難しいなと。Tomoの説明で、うん、うん、と思って、さらにLilyの説明で、うん、うん、うん。(笑）
"would"の懐かしい話で、わかりやすい例文が。
When I was a child, my mother would sing to us.
Have a good day!
Maki
- Maki
- 2008年1月13日 10:29
Hi Lily,
Thanks for explaining!
‘常習的な過去の習慣’‘不規則的な過去の習慣’と言われても、正直なんのことかさっぱりわからない…という感じだったのですが、TomoとLily, Makiの説明や例文はとてもわかりやすくて、少しわかってきたような気がします。
でもまだ”なんとなく”の理解ではありますが＾＾；
Good Night☆
Amica
- Amica
- 2008年1月13日 23:59
Hi Lily and Maki,
Thanks for your help, too! Lily, your explanation makes sense. Now I understand how to use 'would' well! Maki, that's a good example;-) I knew someone would help me. That's the team, isn't it? :-)
Hi Amica,
I didn't understand what‘常習的な過去の習慣’and‘不規則的な過去の習慣’are all about, either when I read the book(笑).
‘何となく’でいいんですよ＾＾ 私も‘何となく’の事がいっぱいあります。 でもいろんな英語に出会っていくと、いつかその‘何となく’が形になっていくのです。 数学みたいにスパッと答えが出ないのが語学のおもしろいところでもあり、もどかしいところでもあり。。 でもAmicaみたいにいろんな事に疑問を持つのはとてもいいことだと思います。 I think that's why you are such a quick learner! Let's keep it up;-)
いつも遅くまでお仕事してるんだね、ご苦労様です・・！ そんな疲れを癒すのはやっぱりチョコレートだよね～。 私は最近‘エアロ’というエアインチョコにハマってます。(知ってる？)
Good night and see you soon,
Tomo
PS David, I'm going to prove that you can lose weight without giving up chocolate;-)
- Tomo
- 2008年1月14日 00:40
Hi, Divid and everyone
Happy New Year 2008
I decided to become a new member. I am sixty's. I've been learning English conversation since near four years. Our studing cercle member is mostly pensioner. Now I have no time to write my comment more.
Good night.
Kiyoko
- Kiyoko Oshima
- 2008年1月15日 01:34
Hi, Divid and everyone
Happy New Year 2008
I decided to become a new member. I am sixty's. I've been learning English conversation since near four years. Our studing cercle member is mostly pensioner. Now I have no time to write my comment more.
Good night.
Kiyoko
- Kiyoko Oshima
- 2008年1月15日 01:34
Hi Kiyoko,
Welcome to the blog! I'm glad to have you with us. You've been studying English for about 4 years? That's great! This blog is a wonderful place for learners of English. I'm looking forward to hearing more comments from you!
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2008年1月15日 09:40
Hi David and everyone
This is the first time to post to your blog. I'm interested in English blogs and this blog would be nice and easy for me to read and understand.
I'm not sure my English is perfect, but I'll do my best in the blog from now. Also I'll welcome to your kind advices.
The first topic is a diet. I'm happy to tell you about a story that I have recently lost my weight. My 10 kg-weight was gone for about 2 months mainly by working out at a gym last year. Still I'm keeping it, and hope to further lose my weight steadly.
The second is the taxi driver. I don't believe he is a nice person at all. In my opinion, he should not ask David some money, like taking advantage of the weekness of others. If I were the taxi driver in the same situation, I would say with confident that I never ask.
Hope to enjoy here again.
Thanks.
Sasuke
- Sasuke
- 2008年1月23日 16:48
Hi Sasuke,
Welcome to the blog! I noticed your comment today. Next time you make a comment, please make it on the latest entry so that we know you are joining us again. David doesn't usually look back at old entries. It is okay if you talk about old topics from the current entry, we often do it.
Look forward to hearing from you again!
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2008年1月24日 10:11
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- chwgnmf uwiek
- 2008年4月14日 20:08
Hi everyone!
Long time no see!!!
I'm sorry too late to say "Happy new year" and I hope to join in this brog this year, too!
About this topic
I think it is unnecessary to return something for kindness. For every kindness. If you expect something in return, that is NOT kindness. When I help others, I'm happy by itself. This is PURE kindness, isn't this? However, there is a person who does the kindness with seeking return. There are a lot of different people in this world.
Intrinsically, I think 5000yen David paid was too much!! You should only say "I can't pay money (or I can't do anything) for you because there is no money in my purse. But I appreciate your kindness very much. Thank you." This is very simple and smart. I think it's OK you only said like this. David, I think you are so good man.
ayako