English Grammar through Stories
by Alan Townend
how they must remember how fussy he always was about appearance and being properly dressed. He had, he said, got a special prize for the best dressed old boy. I heard my name being called out. All I wanted to do was get outbut I had no choice and strolled as casually as I could to loud cheers and cat calls, in my holiday outfit, up on to the stage. As he handed me a small book entitled 'How to look smart' and shook my hand, he whispered: "I've waited fifteen years for this!" Get out ofthis!, I said to myself.
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English Grammar through Stories
by Alan Townend
30. Word story: Health
Health — This word seems to have its origins in the word «whole» or «wholeness» since it is an abstract word that refers to the physical state of a body, which is usually human. In other words we usually associate it with the physical state of a human or living being. People are said to be «in good health» or «enjoying good health». On the other side they could also be «suffering from poor health» or be «in poor health». It isn't until we get to the adjective «healthy» that we are talking about being «in good health». Athletes and sportsmen and women are usually «healthy».
We can also use the adjective to describe not only a physical attribute but also a moral one. You can have a «healthy attitude towards religion or sex», which means that you are objective in the views that you hold on those topics.
At the same time we can use the adjective «healthy» for states or conditions that are not directly to do with living things. We speak of the economy of a country being «healthy», which means that the country does not have huge debts.
When we raise a glass of drink to someone, we address the other person with the words: «Your health». We are in fact wishing that they are in «good health». And of course your personal health is a very important matter. A very common comment passed between people when they are talking about their money problems or their job prospects is «As long as you've got your health». This is a way of cheering themselves up by realising that whatever their problems, at least they don't have any problems with their «health».
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English Grammar through Stories
by Alan Townend
31. Word story: Jokes
«Jokes» are funny stories. You tell a story and hope that the ending, what is often called the «punch line», will make the listener laugh. Let me tell you one and let's hope I at least get a smile. A man who is very fond of going to the theatre to see« thrillers», sometimes called«detective stories» or «whodunits» (because you have to find out who has committed — «done» the murder) goes to see a play but has a very bad seat. He asks the «usher» (someone who shows you to your seat) if he can find a better seat because he wants to work out who the murderer is and promises he will give him a very large «tip» (a lot of money for the service). The usher finds him a good seat. The man gives him just ONE penny. As the usher walks away, he says to the man: «By the way the butler does it with the candlestick!»
There are two verbs associated with «jokes — tell and make». You «tell jokes» or funny stories if you do what I have just done by «telling you a joke about» the man in the theatre. You can also «make jokes about someone». This means that you make fun of someone you know or if you are a «comic» or «comedian», someone who does this for a living, you will invariably «make jokes about« famous people and very often politicians. A «joker» is someone who is always «telling jokes» or playing tricks on people. It is also the word for the one odd card in a pack of playing cards. One useful expression connected with «jokes« is what you say to someone who asks you to do something really dangerous like bungee jumping: «You must be joking!»
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