Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 27-Aug-2007, 04:40
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Posts: 3,246
Current Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Thanks: 16
Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default I went to college

I went to the University and took up an Engineering course.
I went to the University and took up an Engineering major.
I went to the University and took up Engineering.
I went to college and took up an Engineering course.
I went to college and took up an Engineering major.
I went to college and took up Engineering.


Which is right and which is not
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 27-Aug-2007, 08:58
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

My preferences,

Ex: I majored in Engineering in university.
Ex: My major in university was Engineering.
Ex: When I attended university my major was Engineering.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 27-Aug-2007, 10:12
Laidbackness's Avatar
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: India
Posts: 3
Current Location: New Delhi
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Laidbackness is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

To me all the sentences seemed correct
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 27-Aug-2007, 17:41
Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: UK
Posts: 12,800
Current Location: UK
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 1,831 Times in 1,729 Posts
Anglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant future
Default Re: I went to college

Quote:
Originally Posted by blouen View Post
I went to the University and took up an Engineering course.
I went to the University and took up an Engineering major.
I went to the University and took up Engineering.
I went to college and took up an Engineering course.
I went to college and took up an Engineering major.
I went to college and took up Engineering.


Which is right and which is not
To be properly colloquial:

I went to the University of xxxxxxx and took an Engineering course. [specific university]

I went to university/college and took an Engineering course. [unspecified university/college]

I took up engineering and went to college/university for a course.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 27-Aug-2007, 20:56
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Posts: 3,246
Current Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Thanks: 16
Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anglika View Post
To be properly colloquial:

I went to the University of xxxxxxx and took an Engineering course. [specific university]

I went to university/college and took an Engineering course. [unspecified university/college]

I took up engineering and went to college/university for a course.
Anglika,

Would university and college be interchangeable in these sentences?
How about major and course?
Please, I need a little explanation, thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 28-Aug-2007, 00:16
Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: UK
Posts: 12,800
Current Location: UK
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 1,831 Times in 1,729 Posts
Anglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant futureAnglika has a brilliant future
Default Re: I went to college

As indicated, university and college are interchangeable.

In North American universities, a student studying for a first degree will take more than one subject, the most important being the major.

In British universities, the student takes a single course of study.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 28-Aug-2007, 00:26
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Posts: 3,246
Current Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Thanks: 16
Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

Should I ask: What´s your course? to know what he is taking up.

Or What´s your major?


In the Philippines, we ask about the course and the answer is I am taking up Engineering/Nursing/Education....

But with my Foreign Asian tutees they are used to the question ¨What´s your major?¨ and they answer Engineering/Nursing/Education...

What do you say to ask for what someone is taking up
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 28-Aug-2007, 11:15
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

What's your course? is short for what's your course of study?, which is another way of asking what's your major?
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 28-Aug-2007, 22:46
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Posts: 3,246
Current Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Thanks: 16
Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea View Post
What's your course? is short for what's your course of study?, which is another way of asking what's your major?
This makes me think that they are both synonymous, somewhat interchangeable, right?
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 28-Aug-2007, 23:35
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Posts: 3,246
Current Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Thanks: 16
Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: I went to college

Quote:
Originally Posted by blouen View Post
This makes me think that they are both synonymous, somewhat interchangeable, right?
If the person has already graduated should I ask: What ´was´ you major?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
text about why people attend college, correct it please Cache Editing & Writing Topics 12 24-Jan-2007 10:18
Will anyone please revise my college application essay? inck243 Editing & Writing Topics 1 28-Oct-2006 06:29
At College In College At the Univeristy In the University melo Ask a Teacher 5 22-Oct-2006 17:47
Can someone look over my college application essay? min2005 CVs, Resumes and Applications 1 23-Nov-2005 01:19
The president of Harvard College Anonymous Ask a Teacher 5 16-Jan-2004 14:14


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 16:33.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com