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vspomnit' jazik i obshat'sja
16.11.05 11:01
Всем привет! Меня зовут Ольга и я с радостью вступлю в ваш клуб. Я уже почти 2 года не практиковала английский, с тех пор как приехала в Германию и очень многое забыла, поетому поправляйте мéня пожайлуста, если я буду делать ошибки.
Скоро устраиваться на работу и во всех серьезных фирмах, которые мне интересны требуют, перфектный английский. Заниматься времени нет, я думаю если буду общаться вспомню
Темы -любые, давайте занкомиться и общаться, я буду рада
Скоро устраиваться на работу и во всех серьезных фирмах, которые мне интересны требуют, перфектный английский. Заниматься времени нет, я думаю если буду общаться вспомню

Темы -любые, давайте занкомиться и общаться, я буду рада

NEW 17.11.05 12:59
в ответ airet 17.11.05 12:16
ok, girls! Thank you for the feedback! 
Let me introduce myself. My name is Olga, I'm 25. At the moment I'm studying at the European School of Business, MBA Programm Inetrnational Marketing.
That girl at the foto is not my daughter
, she is my cousin, but I haven't seen her for 2 years. 
Now, tell smth. about yourself and if you have any questitons, don't hesitate to ask

Let me introduce myself. My name is Olga, I'm 25. At the moment I'm studying at the European School of Business, MBA Programm Inetrnational Marketing.
That girl at the foto is not my daughter


Now, tell smth. about yourself and if you have any questitons, don't hesitate to ask

NEW 18.11.05 11:59
It is also not very polite to wrtite "Now, tell me..." (btw, there is no comma there). It would be nicer to write somthing like "I will be really happy to read about you" or, more official, "I will very much appreciate if you tell me about you".
Well, following tradition (htis type of conversations is often here) I introduce myself again. I'm postdoc from Berlin working to use math in geology. I work in English for last 12 years, I communicate in English with my German girlfriend. Yet, my English is not good. I wiould claim that not having good basics of English during my school years is the main reason of my poor English. I, however, think in English, I cannot present my work in any other languages, I can speak only English with non-native Russian speakers ... And I have a birthday today...
Well, following tradition (htis type of conversations is often here) I introduce myself again. I'm postdoc from Berlin working to use math in geology. I work in English for last 12 years, I communicate in English with my German girlfriend. Yet, my English is not good. I wiould claim that not having good basics of English during my school years is the main reason of my poor English. I, however, think in English, I cannot present my work in any other languages, I can speak only English with non-native Russian speakers ... And I have a birthday today...

NEW 18.11.05 15:59
в ответ sergeimed 18.11.05 11:59
Nice to meet you Sergei 
Happy birthday and my best wishes!

Thank you for correcting me. I agree with you, it wasn't the polite way for asking
You have a great experience in English
It is important to practise language, no matter if it's English or any other language. Unfortunately, not everybody has the possibility to do it.
The English lessons at my school were terrible. I had to learn it with private teacher in order to enter university.

Happy birthday and my best wishes!


Thank you for correcting me. I agree with you, it wasn't the polite way for asking

You have a great experience in English

It is important to practise language, no matter if it's English or any other language. Unfortunately, not everybody has the possibility to do it.
The English lessons at my school were terrible. I had to learn it with private teacher in order to enter university.
NEW 18.11.05 16:18
в ответ sun19 18.11.05 15:59
I was a school student when there was no motivation to study English. The only reason was to read comunist newspaper "Morning Star"... This what I can tell now. That time, however, I was not that experienced in politically correct phrases, I was simply lazy. I changed schools three times and each time I was starting from ABC...
Thus, the real story of my English started when I was working for cash in green house in the state of New York in 1990...
Thus, the real story of my English started when I was working for cash in green house in the state of New York in 1990...
NEW 18.11.05 16:43
в ответ sergeimed 18.11.05 16:18
Yes, you are right. Nothing is inpossible. If you want to achieve smth, you should work hard. Of course, the English lessons were bad, but I'm sure if I really were interested in learning English, I would have learnt it myself. 
Your story is rather interesting. How have you come to the U.S.?

Your story is rather interesting. How have you come to the U.S.?
NEW 18.11.05 16:54
в ответ sun19 18.11.05 16:43
I came there by private invitation and spent three months in old-Russian community. That time the price of dollar was really high, and I covered all my expences working for $5/h...
Moreover, I met some younger people there who helped me to understand that I can work abroad using my university educcation. A year later I got invitation to persue my PhD in Sweden.
Moreover, I met some younger people there who helped me to understand that I can work abroad using my university educcation. A year later I got invitation to persue my PhD in Sweden.
NEW 18.11.05 16:59
в ответ sun19 18.11.05 16:43
About English. Being abroad and working in English for 12 years, I always hve problems in English always needed to improve that. However, it was always lack of time...
The best progress I got in Canada, when my professor sent me to a course of writing English. Simple lectures and exersises (advantage that that course was for native speakers, difficult to find such a course here) just took psychological barier out. I have much less stress whn I write now...
The best progress I got in Canada, when my professor sent me to a course of writing English. Simple lectures and exersises (advantage that that course was for native speakers, difficult to find such a course here) just took psychological barier out. I have much less stress whn I write now...
NEW 18.11.05 21:03
в ответ sergeimed 18.11.05 11:59
You think in English?!?!
I'm sorry for my curiosity but how is it possible if you have certain problems with the language (from your own words)?
Somehow it's hard for me to understand
If you start to think in a foreign language, it's because you know it good enough and the words and the expression in this language come up first.
About introduction┘ Let's make it language-related
I've studied in the US for a while, and now I have to use English for my work now and then



About introduction┘ Let's make it language-related

NEW 19.11.05 13:25
в ответ sun19 18.11.05 16:43
Hello everybody. I'm with you again.
Hello Olga. Welcome to our nice circuit here! I certainly doubt that me of all people can help you to advance your English, but it doesn't matter - the point is we can practice it.
To my person: in few days, I complete my studies and I aim to apply everywhere, inter alia in the U.K. I don't know if I have a chance, because my spoken enlglish is equal zero but who knows...
What about you? Have you practical experience with speaking English? What do you think, how long you need for getting into that?
Hello Olga. Welcome to our nice circuit here! I certainly doubt that me of all people can help you to advance your English, but it doesn't matter - the point is we can practice it.
To my person: in few days, I complete my studies and I aim to apply everywhere, inter alia in the U.K. I don't know if I have a chance, because my spoken enlglish is equal zero but who knows...
What about you? Have you practical experience with speaking English? What do you think, how long you need for getting into that?
NEW 19.11.05 13:57
в ответ Me_himself 19.11.05 13:25
When I came to the US for the first time my biggest problem was listening. I couldn't understand a word for 2 weeks, although I could read, write and speak easily.
A year ago I visited the UK for the first time. I felt like I'd never been in an English-speaking country before
It took me about 2 days to start to understand the British accent after my American experience
A year ago I visited the UK for the first time. I felt like I'd never been in an English-speaking country before

NEW 19.11.05 19:18
в ответ Me_himself 19.11.05 13:25
Hello, nice to meet you 
It doesn' t matter if we make some mistakes, the main point- we practice
I haven't been in an English-speaking country yet. I have practiced English at the University in Tashkent, where I come from. Now the only possiblity I have is speaking with my british and kanadian professors during English lessons twice a year

It doesn' t matter if we make some mistakes, the main point- we practice

I haven't been in an English-speaking country yet. I have practiced English at the University in Tashkent, where I come from. Now the only possiblity I have is speaking with my british and kanadian professors during English lessons twice a year

NEW 19.11.05 19:26
в ответ Me_himself 19.11.05 15:02
I wish you a good luck and hope you achieve your goals and get one job in the United Kingdom 
British is really very different from american English. My british professor says that I pronounce very american. At the beginnig it was difficult to understand him, cause it sounds completelly different

British is really very different from american English. My british professor says that I pronounce very american. At the beginnig it was difficult to understand him, cause it sounds completelly different
NEW 20.11.05 13:45
в ответ Me_himself 19.11.05 15:02
Is British really SO different from US-English?!
Just pronunciation. For example, when I hear [paipe] I am used to understand it as a "piper". But a British could have meant "paper".
If you are not used to the American pronunciation too much then British English will not be a problem, I guess.
Just pronunciation. For example, when I hear [paipe] I am used to understand it as a "piper". But a British could have meant "paper".

If you are not used to the American pronunciation too much then British English will not be a problem, I guess.
NEW 20.11.05 17:05
в ответ airet 20.11.05 13:45
Very interesting...
What can you tell about the people you got to know in the US/GB? It's impossible to describe a whole nation by (with?) few words, but what do you think, what are the biggest human differences and affinities between "us" and "them" and among themselves? I'm interested in what ist the outlook to get together
with my intended collegues
What can you tell about the people you got to know in the US/GB? It's impossible to describe a whole nation by (with?) few words, but what do you think, what are the biggest human differences and affinities between "us" and "them" and among themselves? I'm interested in what ist the outlook to get together


NEW 21.11.05 11:16
You think in English?!?! ...If you start to think in a foreign language, it's because you know it good enough and the words and the expression in this language come up first.
I don't have a problem to express myself in English, and I don't think when I speak. Then, I usually realise that I have so many mistakes in what I just said...
Well, this is example. Even I was corrected many times in my life, I do not remember when I have to say "said", and when "told"...
About thinking and poor English. It is maybe difficult to understand, but here is example. Many people in Russia do not have any other option than to think in Russian, yet they use "ихняя"...
I don't have a problem to express myself in English, and I don't think when I speak. Then, I usually realise that I have so many mistakes in what I just said...
Well, this is example. Even I was corrected many times in my life, I do not remember when I have to say "said", and when "told"...
About thinking and poor English. It is maybe difficult to understand, but here is example. Many people in Russia do not have any other option than to think in Russian, yet they use "ихняя"...
NEW 22.11.05 13:27
в ответ sergeimed 21.11.05 13:30
Of course I believed you
I was just curious - my brain functions a little different. When I think in a foreign language (English in the US, German now) it's mostly a couple of worlds that come up first because I use them frequently. But for the complexity of my ideas I need the whole power of my mother tongue.
Speaking is different - you have to express yourself so it doesn't matter whether you make mistakes or not, whether you are sure about the word or not.


NEW 21.12.05 22:10
It is not that bad actually
You have a rather good vocabulary which is a valuable asset. Your sentence structures are far from primitive due to your language practice in different English speaking countries. But sometimes your speech reveals your Russian origin
(missing articles, literal translation of idioms, etc)
What do you usually do to improve your language apart from participating in this discussion?


What do you usually do to improve your language apart from participating in this discussion?
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 21.12.05 22:27
Unfortunately it is not only pronunciation
There are also huge differences in vocabulary use, spelling and grammar. But it's really amazing that they (British and Americans) do not know any differencies themselves - they just speak their language and do not rack their brains about it. It is usually foreigners who have to distinguish between BE and AE and learn the differences. 
My British friend told me about her experience in the USA and was proud of having learnt a lot of "American" words. She was really surprised that "bonnet" was "hood" and "boot" is "trunk" in AE. Funny, isn't it?
Check this: http://www.lbt-languages.de/lernhilfe/lernhilfen_ae_be.html


My British friend told me about her experience in the USA and was proud of having learnt a lot of "American" words. She was really surprised that "bonnet" was "hood" and "boot" is "trunk" in AE. Funny, isn't it?
Check this: http://www.lbt-languages.de/lernhilfe/lernhilfen_ae_be.html
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 11:30
I don't do anything to improve my English... And my English of course is a bit better than most of the Russians (I work in English for 12 years, and always my bosses are native speakers).
I think that large amount of writing helps me to improve my speaking abilities though. Now I not only write for myself, but help for my girlfriend and couple more of PhD students, here and in Norway...
I think that large amount of writing helps me to improve my speaking abilities though. Now I not only write for myself, but help for my girlfriend and couple more of PhD students, here and in Norway...
NEW 22.12.05 12:36
в ответ nblens 21.12.05 22:27
I'd say "huge" is a little exaggerated.
There are certain differences but they are not that bad, imho. For spelling you can always choose BE or AE in the Word Options, vocabulary is different sometimes but you can always understand what they mean, and in a couple of days you start using these words too. And grammar is basically the same. Can you give an example of a sentence that would be correct in AE and wrong in BE?

NEW 22.12.05 13:05
в ответ Me_himself 20.11.05 17:05
What can you tell about the people you got to know in the US/GB? It's impossible to describe a whole nation by (with?) few words, but what do you think, what are the biggest human differences and affinities between "us" and "them" and among themselves? I'm interested in what ist the outlook to get together with my intended collegues
Hi, I feel like I'm blind sometimes. I've read your message for the first time today although it's been there for more than a month ┘
Sorry 
When I think of Americans, I think of incredibly friendly people who are always ready to help. I've never experienced anything like that in any other part of the world, and it's great. As for the negative side, they have a different sense of humor and it irritates a little. They do make jokes but it's shallow somehow. Russians, or even Germans, can make jokes about themselves and laugh (what we call "подколоть" in a good meaning of the word). But not Americans. They are so obsessed with the idea not to hurt one's feeling that they are simply afraid to make jokes about a person (of course, they have a serious reason for it considering the ever present danger of a law suit from anyone).
As for the UK, I didn't have a lot of time to get a clear picture of them as a nation. But if you ask about the country, it's very expensive, it's very old and it's almost impossible to find good food there.
Hi, I feel like I'm blind sometimes. I've read your message for the first time today although it's been there for more than a month ┘



When I think of Americans, I think of incredibly friendly people who are always ready to help. I've never experienced anything like that in any other part of the world, and it's great. As for the negative side, they have a different sense of humor and it irritates a little. They do make jokes but it's shallow somehow. Russians, or even Germans, can make jokes about themselves and laugh (what we call "подколоть" in a good meaning of the word). But not Americans. They are so obsessed with the idea not to hurt one's feeling that they are simply afraid to make jokes about a person (of course, they have a serious reason for it considering the ever present danger of a law suit from anyone).
As for the UK, I didn't have a lot of time to get a clear picture of them as a nation. But if you ask about the country, it's very expensive, it's very old and it's almost impossible to find good food there.

NEW 22.12.05 16:31
I am not going to argue with you
because everything is relative. Maybe you are right and it is exaggeration to regard these differences as huge but they are big enough to ignore them. If you check this site http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa110698.htm, you▓ll see that there are a lot of differences in grammar as well.
My American friend has real fun ⌠correcting■ my British English which he calls ⌠the language of a small and unimportant island■. And he never lets out anything including grammar and spelling.
As for the schools here in Germany, all variants of the English language (including Australian, Canadian, Irish, etc) are allowed and I never correct my students. But it is considered to be bad style if students mix up these variants in one essay, so I have to point it out to them. The same is true with different language styles (formal, colloquial, slang, etc).

My American friend has real fun ⌠correcting■ my British English which he calls ⌠the language of a small and unimportant island■. And he never lets out anything including grammar and spelling.
As for the schools here in Germany, all variants of the English language (including Australian, Canadian, Irish, etc) are allowed and I never correct my students. But it is considered to be bad style if students mix up these variants in one essay, so I have to point it out to them. The same is true with different language styles (formal, colloquial, slang, etc).
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 17:38
в ответ nblens 22.12.05 16:31
I was looking at this from the practical side, if it's about teaching someone else then the differences become important of course. 
Btw, if you click on "ссылка" before and after the link when you write a message it becomes more convenient to look up the site.

Btw, if you click on "ссылка" before and after the link when you write a message it becomes more convenient to look up the site.
NEW 22.12.05 17:57
Not small is the same as big, so you can also put it this way
"they are big enough to ignore them"
You may also say "They are big enough so you cannot/should not ignore them"
Compare: The boy is too big to sleep in this bed (or would you like to say "not to sleep"?
)
Maybe it would be better to say "The differences are too big to be ignored" which sounds more correct at closer inspection. But the meaning would be the same.
В ответ на:
they are not small to ignore..
they are not small to ignore..
Not small is the same as big, so you can also put it this way

"they are big enough to ignore them"
You may also say "They are big enough so you cannot/should not ignore them"
Compare: The boy is too big to sleep in this bed (or would you like to say "not to sleep"?

Maybe it would be better to say "The differences are too big to be ignored" which sounds more correct at closer inspection. But the meaning would be the same.
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 18:54
The differences are too big to be ignored
To me it seems to be the only correct way
Actually I didn't pay attention to anything what might be incorrect in this sentence but it only shows that we remain slaves of our mother tongue.
For example, in Google there are sentences like "Microsoft is big enough to ignore standards" but there are no examples of something, which "is big enough to ignore it" in the passive voice.
Quite obviously, it comes from Russian where we don't have this problem ("они достаточно большие, чтобы их проигнорировать").
To me it seems to be the only correct way

Actually I didn't pay attention to anything what might be incorrect in this sentence but it only shows that we remain slaves of our mother tongue.

For example, in Google there are sentences like "Microsoft is big enough to ignore standards" but there are no examples of something, which "is big enough to ignore it" in the passive voice.
Quite obviously, it comes from Russian where we don't have this problem ("они достаточно большие, чтобы их проигнорировать").
NEW 22.12.05 18:57
Go Google and you'll find enough examples of the structure although I admit the passive voice sounds better.
Here are some of the examples:
In the simplest picture, nonspectator amplitudes are small enough to ignore, and one would expect ...
But indirect effects of this sort are often small enough to ignore, especially
when one does not worry about the adjustment process. ...

Here are some of the examples:
In the simplest picture, nonspectator amplitudes are small enough to ignore, and one would expect ...
But indirect effects of this sort are often small enough to ignore, especially
when one does not worry about the adjustment process. ...

If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 19:12
в ответ airet 22.12.05 18:54
Some Google examples for you:
At non-normal incidence the losses increase and are different for the TE and TM fields [4], but these effects are generally small enough to ignore for the ...
... multi-way covariances are usually small enough to ignore (Dakins 2003). Covariances can be positive or negative. A negative covariance reduces the overall ...
For Lyons, his 1946 contributions are certainly small enough to ignore.
... the target had been 238U; the differences in the barriers and radii are
considered small enough to ignore for the purpose of the following discussion. ...
The religious corollaries are easy enough to ignore and the visual splendor for
a good part of the film will keep you well enough distracted from the ...
Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to ignore when it is
to their benefit. Poor countries on the other hand are ruinously penalized ...
So many slaves on the Internet
At non-normal incidence the losses increase and are different for the TE and TM fields [4], but these effects are generally small enough to ignore for the ...
... multi-way covariances are usually small enough to ignore (Dakins 2003). Covariances can be positive or negative. A negative covariance reduces the overall ...
For Lyons, his 1946 contributions are certainly small enough to ignore.
... the target had been 238U; the differences in the barriers and radii are
considered small enough to ignore for the purpose of the following discussion. ...
The religious corollaries are easy enough to ignore and the visual splendor for
a good part of the film will keep you well enough distracted from the ...
Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to ignore when it is
to their benefit. Poor countries on the other hand are ruinously penalized ...
So many slaves on the Internet

If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 19:31
в ответ nblens 22.12.05 19:12
OK, there are such examples, but not too many to make it a norm
Btw, Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to ignore when it is to their benefit┘ is a different construction. You cannot possibly say " Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to be ignored┘

Btw, Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to ignore when it is to their benefit┘ is a different construction. You cannot possibly say " Rules that the US and the richest nations are strong enough to be ignored┘

NEW 22.12.05 19:42
в ответ nblens 22.12.05 19:12
In case you don't trust Google, here are some examples from "A Practical English Grammar" (Cornelsen & Oxford University Press), p. 179 "Adjective/adverb + enough + infinitive:
... the infinitive can refer to the object of the verb:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool enough to drink.
The case is light enough (for me) to carry.
... it can refer to the object of a preposition:
The ice was thick enough to walk on.
The light was strong enough to read by.
In my sentence the passive voice is more common which I have admitted already, but it is not impossible or wrong.
Don't get upset, guys, you will find enough mistakes in my postings, but this one is NOT a mistake, sorry
... the infinitive can refer to the object of the verb:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool enough to drink.
The case is light enough (for me) to carry.
... it can refer to the object of a preposition:
The ice was thick enough to walk on.
The light was strong enough to read by.
In my sentence the passive voice is more common which I have admitted already, but it is not impossible or wrong.
Don't get upset, guys, you will find enough mistakes in my postings, but this one is NOT a mistake, sorry

If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 19:54
в ответ airet 22.12.05 19:31
Sorry I haven't delivered 1000 examples to convince you. But even these 5-6 examples prove my sentence to be correct though not the only correct version.
If you change it to read: .... they are big enough for us to ignore them, it will also sound better but it is possible to omit the object in this case as shown in the examples.
Can't we change the topic or are you determined to argue long?
If you change it to read: .... they are big enough for us to ignore them, it will also sound better but it is possible to omit the object in this case as shown in the examples.
Can't we change the topic or are you determined to argue long?
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 22.12.05 20:00
в ответ nblens 22.12.05 19:42
You are right, I agree. 
I should have checked more than the first page in Google before making conclusions.
Actually I am glad that the reason your message didn't struck me as incorrect when I read it first was that it was correct (as opposed to slavery)


I should have checked more than the first page in Google before making conclusions.
Actually I am glad that the reason your message didn't struck me as incorrect when I read it first was that it was correct (as opposed to slavery)


NEW 22.12.05 21:22

I am glad you see it this way
Once my American friend said about himself: "I certainly don't always speak correctly, but at least I usually know what's right if I have enough time to think!"
I think that it suits all of us perfectly well.
I often have to argue with my students who fail to see and accept my corrections because they think German and try to speak English. After the fourth or fifth wrong sentence I start to doubt myself and consult the dictionary.
And I can never hark back to Russian - I have to think in two foreign languages at the same time.
в ответ airet 22.12.05 20:00



I am glad you see it this way

Once my American friend said about himself: "I certainly don't always speak correctly, but at least I usually know what's right if I have enough time to think!"
I think that it suits all of us perfectly well.
I often have to argue with my students who fail to see and accept my corrections because they think German and try to speak English. After the fourth or fifth wrong sentence I start to doubt myself and consult the dictionary.
And I can never hark back to Russian - I have to think in two foreign languages at the same time.
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 23.12.05 13:41
в ответ nblens 22.12.05 19:42
Am I completely stupid, or what?
Phrase:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool enough to drink.
brings correct meaning. We divide that phrase to understand better:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool |||| enough to drink.
And your original phrase
they are big enough (for us) to ignore them
has meaning opposit to what you try to bring to us. The meaning, again, can be understood better if we divide the phrase:
they are big |||| enough to ignore them
So your original phrase can be exaggerated like that:
If they would be even bigger, we shel ignore them even esier.
(well, I never pretend that I can use "if" sentence, but hope that my logics is understandable)...
Phrase:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool enough to drink.
brings correct meaning. We divide that phrase to understand better:
After a few minutes the coffee was cool |||| enough to drink.
And your original phrase
they are big enough (for us) to ignore them
has meaning opposit to what you try to bring to us. The meaning, again, can be understood better if we divide the phrase:
they are big |||| enough to ignore them
So your original phrase can be exaggerated like that:
If they would be even bigger, we shel ignore them even esier.
(well, I never pretend that I can use "if" sentence, but hope that my logics is understandable)...
NEW 23.12.05 14:15
в ответ sergeimed 23.12.05 13:41
You are not stupid at all
but you lack some knowledge of grammar which is normal for a person who has not studied the language at university. Ariet seems to have a good language education and knows a lot about infinitive constructions.
That's why she understands me and you don't
You cannot separate the words "big" and "enough" in this sentence. They belong together like "too big" or "rather big" with the only difference that "enough" should follow the adjective or adverb it belongs to and not precede it. The same is true with cool enough, smart enough, fair enough, etc.
... they are big enough (for us) to ignore them - is an infinitive construction which is typical of English. You can change the phrase to read: they are too big (for us) to ignore them but the meaning will be more intense which I wanted to avoid using "enough". What I wanted to say was that the differences cannot be ignored only because there are a lot of them and they are rather important sometimes.
Ask your Norwegian friends if you don't believe us
And what about the examples from Google? Don't they convince you? They are taken from British and American Web sites.

That's why she understands me and you don't

You cannot separate the words "big" and "enough" in this sentence. They belong together like "too big" or "rather big" with the only difference that "enough" should follow the adjective or adverb it belongs to and not precede it. The same is true with cool enough, smart enough, fair enough, etc.
... they are big enough (for us) to ignore them - is an infinitive construction which is typical of English. You can change the phrase to read: they are too big (for us) to ignore them but the meaning will be more intense which I wanted to avoid using "enough". What I wanted to say was that the differences cannot be ignored only because there are a lot of them and they are rather important sometimes.
Ask your Norwegian friends if you don't believe us

And what about the examples from Google? Don't they convince you? They are taken from British and American Web sites.
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 23.12.05 14:29
в ответ nblens 23.12.05 14:15
I have no problems with Google examples. They all understandable. Especially the first:
... small enough to ignore...
Further. Two examples from your last post have completely different meaning:
big enough (for us) to ignore them = достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
too big (for us) to ignore them = слишком большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
Теперь смотрим на первый перевод. Двойное зсначение:
1. если бы они были есче большэ, то пренебрегать ими было бы легче;
2. то значение, что Вы имели в виду.
One of my suggestions, that you criticized above (not small enogh to ignore) does not have that dounle meaning...
To conclude: "big enough to ignore" is vague, imho.
... small enough to ignore...
Further. Two examples from your last post have completely different meaning:
big enough (for us) to ignore them = достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
too big (for us) to ignore them = слишком большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
Теперь смотрим на первый перевод. Двойное зсначение:
1. если бы они были есче большэ, то пренебрегать ими было бы легче;
2. то значение, что Вы имели в виду.
One of my suggestions, that you criticized above (not small enogh to ignore) does not have that dounle meaning...
To conclude: "big enough to ignore" is vague, imho.
NEW 23.12.05 14:51
I never criticised this sentence, on the contrary I said that it is another option to express what I mean.
That is exactly what I meant in my first post! достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать and if you read the message, you'll see it!
Maybe you don't understand the meaning of the word "enough" which is not restrictive (big enough means not too small).
And now change the topic, please. Maybe I am not smart enough
to explain it to you, so I resign. If you think that you know it better, then go ahead and discuss it with somebody else. 
В ответ на:
One of my suggestions, that you criticized above (not small enogh to ignore) does not have that dounle meaning...
One of my suggestions, that you criticized above (not small enogh to ignore) does not have that dounle meaning...
I never criticised this sentence, on the contrary I said that it is another option to express what I mean.
В ответ на:
big enough (for us) to ignore them = достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
too big (for us) to ignore them = слишком большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
big enough (for us) to ignore them = достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
too big (for us) to ignore them = слишком большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать
That is exactly what I meant in my first post! достаточно большие, чтобы ими пренебрегать and if you read the message, you'll see it!
Maybe you don't understand the meaning of the word "enough" which is not restrictive (big enough means not too small).
And now change the topic, please. Maybe I am not smart enough


If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 23.12.05 15:11
в ответ nblens 23.12.05 14:51
That discussion is not at all about English, because we both translate that phrase the same way to Russian, but still disagree on the correctness.
Can you correct my phrase from above, please:
If they would be even bigger, we shell ignore them even easier.
I▓m sure it is incorrect.
Can you correct my phrase from above, please:
If they would be even bigger, we shell ignore them even easier.
I▓m sure it is incorrect.
NEW 23.12.05 15:32
в ответ sergeimed 23.12.05 15:11
Is it a kind of test?
You know perfectly well that it is wrong and I am sure you know how to correct it.
Anyway, I'd put it like this:
If they were (even) bigger, we would ignore them more easily.
If they were (even) bigger, we would find it easier to ignore them.
In any case you shoudl use Conditional II here. These are only two options, but there are a lot more.
translate INTO Russian
ignore + adverb (ignore easily)
You know perfectly well that it is wrong and I am sure you know how to correct it.
Anyway, I'd put it like this:
If they were (even) bigger, we would ignore them more easily.
If they were (even) bigger, we would find it easier to ignore them.
In any case you shoudl use Conditional II here. These are only two options, but there are a lot more.
translate INTO Russian

ignore + adverb (ignore easily)
If you can read this, thank your teacher.
NEW 23.12.05 15:47
в ответ nblens 23.12.05 15:32
Thanks. No that was not a test. You see, I work in natural science, and there is no way we use that forms in papers... So, I don't have any experience in that.
I hope I will remember...
About comma in that sentence. Is that comma necessary in all interpretations of English? I mean, are there difference between interpretations in using punctuation?
I hope I will remember...
About comma in that sentence. Is that comma necessary in all interpretations of English? I mean, are there difference between interpretations in using punctuation?
NEW 23.12.05 16:39
в ответ sergeimed 23.12.05 15:47
Why don't you join in a scientific forum of native English speakers? It would be more useful if you communicated with people who are sure in their use of English and you could discuss scientific topics as well. This would improve your knowledge enormously.
Try these: http://www.groupsrv.com/science/forum-14.html
http://magma.tamu.edu/cgi-bin/YaBB.cgi
You can find a lot on the Internet
Try these: http://www.groupsrv.com/science/forum-14.html
http://magma.tamu.edu/cgi-bin/YaBB.cgi
You can find a lot on the Internet

If you can read this, thank your teacher.