EL BOLETIN DE INGLES AMERICANO PREFERIDO POR LOS HISPANOPARLANTES

OM News # 120 - Delivered to 111.000 subscribers

ISSN 1668-4877  January 15, 2006

Hi everybody. Today we are bringing two interesting grammars and a listening exercise: idioms used to describe feelings and mood, and adverbs showing attitudes. And always good for your practice: suggested reading links. See you again on February 1.

Hola todas/os. Hoy traemos dos interesantes gramáticas junto con un archivo de audio: expresiones idiomáticas utilizadas para describir sentimientos y estados de ánimo, y adverbios que expresan actitudes. Y siempre buenos para tu práctica: enlaces sugeridos de lectura. Nos vemos el 1° de Febrero.

Si buscas cursos conversacionales prácticos en CD, consulta al final del boletín nuestro CATALOGO DE PROMOCIONES...

IDIOMS DESCRIBING FEELINGS AND MOOD

Idiomatic expressions are useful, but remember: There is an element of exaggeration in most idioms. They make comments on the situation and lighten the tone of what you are saying. So, please use them informally.

Las expresiones idiomáticas son útiles pero ten presente que existe algo de exageración en ellas. Sirven para hacer comentarios situacionales y destacar el tono de lo que estás diciendo. Justamente por ello, úsalas informalmente.

POSITIVE FEELINGS, MOODS, AND STATES

Lucas seems to be on cloud nine these days.
(Lucas parece estar sumamente feliz últimamente).

After hearing the good news, Monica was walking on air.
(Después de enterarse de las buenas noticias, Mónica estaba muy feliz).

Luciana seems to be keeping her chin up.
(Luciana parece estar feliz a pesar de sus problemas).

Manuel's a happy camper.
(A Manuel se lo ve satisfecho).

Mario's wife seems to be in seventh heaven since their marriage.
(La esposa de Mario parece estar sumamente feliz desde su casamiento).

NEGATIVE FEELINGS, MOODS, AND STATES

My brother really looked down in the dumps.
(Francamente a mi hermano se lo veía triste o deprimido).

Mariana has been in a foul mood lately.
(Mariana ha estado de mal talante últimamente).

You haven't been yourself last week.
(Se te veía molesto/a la semana pasada).

Yanina is feeling a bit down today. Her boyfriend left for thirty days.
(Yanina está con la depre hoy. Su novio se fue por treinta días).

My secretary was in a snit when I called her.
(Mi secretaria estaba completamente irritada cuando la llamé).

PHYSICAL FEELINGS AND STATES

Helen could eat a horse when she arrived so late.
(Helen se moría de hambre cuando llegó tan tarde).

I'm feeling dead on my feet after working for fifteen hours.
(Después de trabajar quince horas estoy completamente agotado).

You're looking a little bit under the weather this morning. Anything wrong?
(No te ves muy bien esta mañana. ¿Ocurre algo malo?).

Victoria was almost at death's door last month.
(Victoria estuvo muy enferma el mes pasado).

FEAR OR FRIGHT

The little girl looked scared stiff when she found out who the murderer was.
(La niña se veía sumamente asustada cuando descubrió quien era el asesino).

The poor kid!! You frightened him out of his wits with that horrible mask.
(Pobre chico!! Lo espantaste a morir con esa horrible máscara).

We were all shaking in our boots.
(Todos estábamos temblando de miedo).

Daniel jumped out of his skin when he heard the bang in the office.
(Daniel pegó un salto cuando escuchó la explosión en la oficina).

ADVERBS SHOWING ATTITUDES
Adverbs have been highlighted on the listening comprehension text

A NEWS REPORT ON TV
Rock group The Accelerators had announced a concert in the Newcastle Stadium for tonight, but something has happened to them. Let's listen to the newsreader, the tour organizer of the group and a reporter. CLICK HERE to listen to the news or download them (700 KB) to your computer. This audio file will be available until January 31, 2006.

UN NOTICIERO TELEVISIVO
El conjunto de rock The Accelerators había anunciado un concierto en el Newcastle Stadium para esta noche pero algo les ha sucedido. Escuchemos qué dicen el encargado del noticiero, la organizadora de las giras del grupo y un periodista. PULSA AQUÍ para escuchar las noticias o descargarlas (700 KB) a tu computadora. Este archivo de audio estará disponible hasta el 31 de Enero, 2006.

TIPS: Observa cómo se pronuncia en forma aspirada la letra H en las palabras HAD y HOPEFULLY (resaltadas en rosa en el texto). Los estudiantes hispanoparlantes tienen tendencia a pronunciar esta consonante inicial como una J, excesivamente fuerte.

NEWSREADER:

The American group The Accelerators, who are currently on tour in Britain, had a lucky escape this morning. They were on their way to Newcastle, when their coach left the road at high speed. Fortunately, no one was badly hurt, although the members of the group were understandably shaken by the accident. The organizer of the tour, Kate Harvey, spoke to our reporter.

TOUR ORGANIZER:

Well, I wasn't with them on the coach, so I'm not sure exactly what happened. But apparently, the driver made a sudden change of direction in order to avoid another vehicle. There was clearly an emergency of some kind, because he's a very experienced driver.

REPORTER:

What about tonight's concert in Newcastle?

TOUR ORGANIZER:

We've decided to cancel the Newcastle concert. The group wanted to play, but frankly it wasn't a good idea. We want to be quite sure they're OK, so we'd prefer them to take it easy until tomorrow.

REPORTER:

Presumably, ticket-holders can get their money back.

TOUR ORGANIZER:

Oh, yes, of course. But we're arranging another date for the concert. Hopefully, that'll be in the not-too-distant future. So ticket-holders can keep their tickets and use them on the new date, if they like.

NEWSREADER:

Well, maybe The Accelerators should change their name. It seems to have brought them a little bad luck!! But seriously, all the best to Luke and the others. We look forward to seeing them fit and well for their Wembley Stadium concerts, which begin on Friday.

GLOSARIO BILINGÜE:
currently
: actualmente; fortunately: afortunadamente, por fortuna; badly (hurt): seriamente (herido); understandably: comprensiblemente; exactly: exactamente, con exactitud; apparently: aparentemente, al parecer; clearly: claramente, sin duda; frankly: francamente; presumably: presumiblemente; hopefully: es de esperar que; seriously; seriamente, en serio.

PULSA EN LA IMAGEN PARA VISITARLA !!

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