Difference in meaning, in phonetics

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi all,

Please help me with these questions.

VOCABULARY:

I. What is the meaning of “warm”, “covered”, “assisted learning”, “thankkful”, “I’m in computers”, “really” and “for a while” in:

  1. It’s a little warm for my taste.
  2. The present perfect is covered in Unit 8.
  3. This is computer - assisted learning.
  4. I was thankkful to see they’d all arrived safely.
  5. He wasn’t badly hurt - that’s something to be thankful for.
  6. He was thankful that they hadn’t asked for more.
  7. A: Do you want to share a taxi?
    B: Oh sure.
    A: Are you here on vacation?
    B: No, business. I’m in computers.
    A: Oh, me too. I work for ABM.
    B: Really. I work for Apple.
  8. I was out last night with my friends now I’m so tired. I won’t do that again for a while.

II. “Rent-a-Wreck” in “have you tried Rent-a-Wreck?” is countable or uncountable? If it’s countable noun, how to write it in plural?

SENTENCES.

I. Please fix the mistake(s) of each sentence. If the sentence is correct, please note “right”.

a. He should be lying on the beach now.
b. They should have our letter by now.
c. Hadn’t we better take an umbrella?

II. When someone says : Riding with a drunk rider is dangerous. That means they’re are in one vehicle or they’re in 2 different vehicles?
When someone says : Riding with a drunk driver is dangerous. That means they’re are in one vehicle or they’re in 2 different vehicles?

III. Same meaning? If not, please explain.

  1. It’s a chemical.
    It’s a chemical substance.
  2. He’s worked hard all year.
    He’s worked hard.
  3. What do you usually do when you check into a hotel?
    What do you usually do when you check in to a hotel?
  4. What do you usually do when you check into a hotel?
    What do you usually do when you register at a hotel?
  5. The problem is to get it all done in the time available.
    The problem is getting it all done in the time available.
  6. I like to get exercise.
    I like to do exercise.
    I like to take exercise.
  7. I recommend he should see a lawyer.
    I advise he should see a lawyer.
  8. They advise that a passport be carried with you at all times.
    They recommend that a passport be carried with you at all times.
  9. It’s a research institute.
    It’s a research institution.
    10.It’s an educational institute.
    It’s an educational institution.

PHONETICS

In American language, normally, people doesn’t pronounce the “t” behind “n”. For example, for “interview”, sometime I hear American people pronounce /inerview/.

So for “winter”, can I drop “t” when pronouncing?

Many thanks.
Van Khanh

2

In some books they tell you that Americans “normally” don’t pronounce the [t] after [n], but this is a great exaggeration. Many Americans may drop this [t] some or even all the time, but it’s stigmatized speech, and if you point out to an American that he does it, he’ll probably get angry and swear to you that he always pronounces the [t].

The problem is that, even in American English, dropping that [t] sometimes sounds okay (just okay, not good) and sometimes sounds bad. Pronouncing the [t] always sounds good.

So, I would recommend you pronounce the [t] in “winter” and in any other word. Besides, “winter” without the [t] is “winner”.

3

Hi,

Many many thanks for you. It’s what I’d like.

For more short, you can say:

Not pronounce /t/ : Ok but not good ( as that seems to be negative).

Sincerely
Van Khanh