Everyday English

RULE SEVEN: If your husband ceases to call you “Sugarfoot” or “Candy Eyes”, or “Cutie Fudge Pie” during the first year of your marriage, it is not necessarily a sign that he no longer cares or has come to take you for granted. It is probably an indication that he has recovered his normal perspective.

RULE EIGHT: Two persons living in holy matrimony must avoid slipping into the subjunctive mood. The safest place for a happily married couple is the indicative mood, and of its tenses the present is the most secure. The future is a domain of threats and worries, and the past is a wasteland of sorrows and regrets.

I can hope in conclusion, that this treatise itself will not start, in any household, a widening gap that can never be closed.

Notes:

¹ disparage [di'sp^ri^] - относиться с пренебрежением

² beaux [bauz] (pl) - girl’s admirer

³ Mug (si) - face (рожа)

⁴ blight - plant disease

Ex.17. Translate the story from Russian into English.

Джим встречается с Джеймсом

Мне рассказали историю о близнецах из Огайо, которых при рождении усыновили две разные семьи.

Они впервые встретились только в возрасте 39 лет. Оба хотели узнать, много ли у них общего (have smth in common). И оказалось, они оба были женаты на женщинах, которых звали Линда. Оба развелись и женились во второй раз на женщинах, которых звали Бетси. Обе пары, которые усыновили их, называли своих сыновей «Джим». В жизни с ними происходило много одинаковых случаев (similar things). Почти все, что они делали, было одинаковым. Как сказал Джим, когда он впервые встретил Джеймса: «Это не было похоже на встречу с незнакомцем».

IV. DIALOGUES

Ex. 18. Read, translate and render the dialogues in indirect speech.

“How old is your younger brother?”

“But I have no brothers.”

“Isn’t this kid your brother?”

“Oh, no, he’s my nephew.”

LU

“Have you sent greetings to our relations?”

“Only to grandparents.”

“And what about aunts, uncles and cousins? Christmas is only a week away.”

“I think I’ll still manage. I’ll write them in the afternoon.”

“What relationship is Jack to you?”

“Well, he’s my remote kinsman.”

“Oh, really? But he always says you are close relations.”

“If he likes to say that, let him do it. In fact I’ve got some new relations of late since I starred in that successful film”.

“So my daughter has consented to become your wife. Have you fixed the day of the wedding?”

“I’ll leave that to my fiancee.”

“Will you have a church or private wedding?”

“Her mother will decide that, sir”.

“What have you to live on?”

“I’ll leave that entirely to you, sir.”

5

Looking at Photos

A: Good afternoon, is your wife in?

B: No, Jane isn’t home yet. Won’t you sit down?

A: Thank you. It’s a fine day, isn’t it?

B: Oh, yes, it’s very warm and sunny. While waiting would you like to have a look at our family album?

A: Sure. Who are these people?

B: They are our parents. This man and woman are Jane’s parents, my motherin-law and my father-in-law. And here are my parents.

A: I see. Your mother is very young and beautiful in this picture.

B: And father? He is still a very handsome man, isn’t he?

A: How old is he now?

B: He is 67, but he is still very handsome. And this is our son Martin. He is nineteen. He is a student.

A: What a lovely face! Who’s this?

B: This is Jane’s cousin, my sister-in-law. Her mother, Jane’s aunt, is a famous actress, and her uncle is an artist, and a very good one. His son is also an artist. A: This is a very old photograph... Who’s this funny little baby? A boy, isn’t it? B: Yes, and a very big boy now.

A: Oh! It’s not you, is it?

B: It is!

(©) 6 The Family Album (continued)

A: And who is this elderly woman?

B: This woman is my grandmother. She is a very nice, kind and loving grandmother.

A: And whose photo is this? Who is this man?

B: This man is my grandfather.

A: In this photo, your grandfather is young and he’s riding a horse. Is he alive?

B: No, he isn’t. He is dead.

A: I’m sorry. And your grandmother, where is she now?

B: With us, in St.Petersburg.

A: And who’s this pretty girl?

B: This is Helen, my girlfriend. She is very, very beautiful.

A: How old is she?

B: She’s 19. She’s a ballet dancer.

A: Oh, I see. And who are these people?

B: They’re Helen’s parents. Helen’s mother is a very nice woman and very kind. And Helen’s father is a very good person, too. He is kind and generous.

A: Helen’s mother is your future mother-in-law, isn’t she?

B: Yes, I hope so.

(®) 7 Bush and Clinton Are Remote Relatives

A: Did you happen to know that George Bush and Bill Clinton are distant cousins? B: Well, I’ve never heard of it! Where on earth did you find that out?

A: I’ve just read it in “The Japan Times”, in the October 23, 1992 issue¹.

B: What information agency does the paper refer to?

A: Reutor-Kyodo from London.

B: Oh, that’s a reliable source. What does the article say?

A: Both presidents share royal ancestors traced back to the 13-th century in England.

B: Any relationship to Queen Elizabeth of Britain?

A: Exactly. Bush is her 13-th cousin. It’s a matter of common knowledge now.