Auf dem Weg zum native-speaker: Heute zeigen wir Ihnen drei Möglichkeiten, wie Sie Ihr Business Englisch auffrischen und erweitern. Hierbei greifen wir auf Originalmaterial zurück. Um Näheres zu erfahren, lesen Sie weiter.
Dear Reader,
Today we are going to do three different things with the one-minute news clip on the BBC website. First, sort the new items into the following categories:
- BP Oil Spill
- Aid for Gaza
- Soccer World Cup
|
|
…by beating Uruguay on Saturday |
To win against Uruguay on Saturday |
|
|
…carrying aid for Gaza |
To bring help to Gaza |
|
|
…pouring into the Gulf of Mexico |
To spill into the Gulf of Mexico |
|
|
…making a fresh attempt |
To try again |
|
|
…heading for Egypt |
Egypt is the destination |
|
|
…for hosting the tournament |
To be the host of the Soccer World Cup |
|
|
…reach the climax |
To come to the high point |
|
|
…a fractured underwater pipe |
A pipe with a crack and leaks |
|
|
…the vessel would not change course |
The ship would not change direction |
|
|
…after diplomatic intervention |
After diplomacy was initiated |
Here are the answers:
|
World Cup |
…by beating Uruguay on Saturday |
To win against Uruguay on Saturday |
|
Aid for Gaza |
…carrying aid for Gaza |
To bring help to Gaza |
|
BP Oil Spill |
…pouring into the Gulf of Mexico |
To spill into the Gulf of Mexico |
|
BP Oil Spill |
…making a fresh attempt |
To try again |
|
Aid for Gaza |
…heading for Egypt |
Egypt is the destination |
|
World Cup |
…for hosting the tournament |
To be the host of the Soccer World Cup |
|
World Cup |
…reach the climax |
To come to the high point |
|
BP Oil Spill |
…a fractured underwater pipe |
A pipe with a crack and leaks |
|
Aid for Gaza |
…the vessel would not change course |
The ship would not change direction |
|
Aid for Gaza |
…after diplomatic intervention |
After diplomacy was initiated |
Next, do you notice that the speaker uses expressions with the –ing often instead of building clauses (Nebensätze). This is a very popular and good stylistic technique used in English and sounds less clumsy.
Last, I would like to point out that expressions, such as
- To reach a climax
- A fractured underwater pipe
- The vessel would not change course
- After diplomatic intervention
are typical for an English native-speaker to say and would be said differently if I were translating directly from German to English. As such, they are excellent to learn and to use when you speak or write English.
Kind regards,
Nelly Thomas