comprehension: Rene W

[hela]

Hello Bob,

Thank you very much for your help. You corrected my English but not so much the content, the ideas. Does it mean that you agree with what I said? Are my answers to the point?

In question 1, you told me that the old lady cannot be considered as "irritable". Why? What does "a crusty old woman" mean exactly?

In question 10, the expression meaning "to feel ashamed" is it "loosing face"?

Kindest regards,
Hela

[BobK]

Hello Bob,

Thank you very much for your help. You corrected my English but not so much the content, the ideas. Does it mean that you agree with what I said? Are my answers to the point?

Yes.

In question 1, you told me that the old lady cannot be considered as "irritable". Why? What does "a crusty old woman" mean exactly?

As Grévisse said, Les mots n'existent pas. 'Crusty' doesn't mean irritable, but it tends to be used in relation to people who are; they are typically irritable, cantankerous, opinionated, easily annoyed ... but you can use a Thesaurus as well as I can. I can't say what "a crusty old woman" means exactly, I just recognize contexts where people use it.

In question 10, the expression meaning "to feel ashamed" is it "lo[only one "o"]sing face"?

It could be. If so, I'm not impressed by the person who set the question.

[Incidentally, losing but choosing [ both /u:z/]; there is a verb 'to loose' [set free], but it's quite rare; this verb has the -ing form 'loosing', but it's pronounced with an /s/.]



b

[hela]

Good morning Bob,

Some more questions please:

1) Could I describe a crusty old woman as being surly, churlish, bad-tempered?

2) Should I understand
a) "talk at" in the text a having a one-way conversation?
b) "talk past" and "talk through" as talking without being listened to or without touching / interesting the other?

3) What should I say here:
a) Their private life/lives ?
b) They are not concerned with each other’s life/lives.

4) How would you translate "selon lequel / laquelle" in English?
ex: un principe selon lequel une personne ne peut....

5) I found these sentences on the net could please tell me if they are written in correct English?
a) To let on to people about a secret.
b) To stress a heavy emphasis upon an issue.
c) The British are finicky about maintaining social rules and usually think it is undone to shatter the social code of behavour.


Many thanks,
Hela