Page 29 -On Monday afternoon. The chime for afternoon classes was ringing in the campus. Several students were running along the street. And a cat was running along the street. The cat was running toward the pond.- I was almost late. I made it. Pina had not arrived yet. She might have gone back. No, that's thinking too much. I'm nervous. I have to play it by ear. When I thought so, I was able to calm myself down. And I watched a small white figure at a distance. Today's points -The point 1- I was almost late. "Almost" means 90% of them. (1) I'm hungry. It is almost lunchtime. Let's go to the canteen right now. (If several minutes pass, it is lunchtime.) It is almost 8 p.m. Oh, let's call it a day. Have you completed your graduation thesis? Almost. It is the adverb and it can not be used before the nouns. For example, "almost students" is not used. If we use it with the nouns, "all of" is used as "almost all of the students" Almost all of the students in our class like English. By the way, it is also used as we are led to accomplishment if we have a few or a little. "I was almost late." means if I used some time, I was completely late. Thus, it means I was not late. (2) Wait! It will be cold. You need a jacket. Oh, I almost forgot. -The point 2- I made it. "Make it" is used to get a destination or be not late. (3) We made it to the train. Yes. We were almost late for the train. I made it. You are late, Roy. Libre is leaving here now. I'm sorry. Well … Sherry, Pina, Buttered, Bronx and Roy. Thank you for everything. I'm going to another town. We don't want to say good-bye. We'll see you again, Libre. Thank you. I won't forget you. See you. Libre! See you again, Sherry! -The point 3- She might have gone back. "Might" means possible or we have a little confidence. The verbs are put before it. (4) She looks pale. She might be sick. She didn't come yesterday. Libre might be in the town. No. He is walking now. It's a long way from here. He needs a few days. How will he meet her? There is a park near to her house. They are going to meet there. There might be a fountain in the park. And there might be cats like us. When it means certain or we have confidence, "must" is used instead. It is explained in Page 18. By the way, it is used to the present event. When we want to use for the past, "have + the past participle" is put after it. It means weak confidence to the past but we think it in the present. The beginning sentence "She might have gone back." means he think it at the present but the event in his mind is thought to be the past. (5) She hasn't come yet. Really? She might have missed the train. I might have left papers in the office. I'm in trouble. I'll check them tomorrow. -The point 4- I have to play it by ear. "Play… by ear" means we can play if we hear it once in literal translation, thus, it is used when we consider the way after something occurs. I'm tired. I have been walking for two days. Fiona has already got to the new house. Oh …. We didn't decide when to meet or where to meet in the park. Well, I'll just have to play it by ear.

previous page

EnglishCafe Top

Copyright (c) EnglishCafe : Unapproved printing of the text and figure in this site is forbidden.