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Thread: Actual

  1. #1
    BRENOIRONMAIDEN is offline Junior Member
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    Default Actual

    Steve Harris starts talking first about the inspiration behind calling the band 'Iron Maiden'.

    "Did you ever see the film 'The Man In The Iron Mask'?" He asks. "Well I saw it on television and that's when the name first occurred to me. Although strictly speaking I believe an ACTUAL 'Iron Maiden' is an altogether more vicious torture device ... you know, it's a metal case with these nails set inside of it and if you fasten it over someone's head they get kind of spiked. Very unpleasant."



    In this text, the word "ACTUAL" means:

    A) Real, Genuine
    B) Current, existing at the present time

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Actual

    Quote Originally Posted by BRENOIRONMAIDEN View Post
    Steve Harris starts talking first about the inspiration behind calling the band 'Iron Maiden'.

    "Did you ever see the film 'The Man In The Iron Mask'?" He asks. "Well I saw it on television and that's when the name first occurred to me. Although strictly speaking I believe an ACTUAL 'Iron Maiden' is an altogether more vicious torture device ... you know, it's a metal case with these nails set inside of it and if you fasten it over someone's head they get kind of spiked. Very unpleasant."



    In this text, the word "ACTUAL" means:

    A) Real, Genuine
    B) Current, existing at the present time
    Which answer do you think is correct?

  3. #3
    BRENOIRONMAIDEN is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Actual

    I don't know, I am beginner in English language. I saw the word "actual" has these two meanings, in this site:

    actual - definition of actual by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

    So what the right choice?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Actual

    Quote Originally Posted by BRENOIRONMAIDEN View Post
    I don't know, I am beginner in English language. I saw the word "actual" has these two meanings, in this site:

    actual - definition of actual by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

    So what the right choice?
    Even though you are a beginner, it is important to try and work out the answer to a question yourself first. The two definitions that you have are correct. Which one of them do you think makes more sense? Please try to answer first. After you have done that, we will comment and give our opinion and explanation.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Actual

    Quote Originally Posted by BRENOIRONMAIDEN View Post
    Steve Harris starts talking first about the inspiration behind calling the band 'Iron Maiden'.

    "Did you ever see the film 'The Man In The Iron Mask'?" He asks. "Well I saw it on television and that's when the name first occurred to me. Although strictly speaking I believe an ACTUAL 'Iron Maiden' is an altogether more vicious torture device ... you know, it's a metal case with these nails set inside of it and if you fasten it over someone's head they get kind of spiked. Very unpleasant."



    In this text, the word "ACTUAL" means:

    A) Real, Genuine
    B) Current, existing at the present time
    It's A. Actually does not, in English have the French/Portuguese meaning of "currently" or right now. Or rather, it is rarely used in that way.

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    BRENOIRONMAIDEN is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Actual

    Well, konungurvia answered "a". Ithink "a" makes more sense, but I'm not sure.

  7. #7
    BRENOIRONMAIDEN is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Actual

    emsr2d2, I think "a" makes more sense. Can you explain? thanks

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Actual

    Quote Originally Posted by BRENOIRONMAIDEN View Post
    emsr2d2, I think "a" makes more sense. Can you explain? thanks
    Konungursvia has already explained.

  9. #9
    BRENOIRONMAIDEN is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Actual

    but I did not understand his explanation. Can someone explain to me in a better way? thanks

  10. #10
    Michael84 is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Actual

    Quote Originally Posted by BRENOIRONMAIDEN View Post
    but I did not understand his explanation. Can someone explain to me in a better way? thanks
    not a teacher

    He said that the word "actual" is often confused with "current" by speakers of your native language. This is not the meaning it has in English.
    This is why A is the correct answer.

    P.S.: Many Germans also confuse "actual" with "current"/"existing at the present time", because it sounds similar to the German word "aktuell".
    Last edited by Michael84; 25-Jun-2011 at 00:45. Reason: typo

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