Hi everybody, this is Misterduncan in England. How are you today? Are you OK? I hope so! Are you happy? I hope so! Here we all are once again with another selection of your questions and queries concerning the English language and my work here on the World Wide Web. So let us get straight under way with our first brain-picker for today.
What is the difference between 'near' and 'close', 'really' and 'actually'? This question comes from Laura Febrer from Castellōn in Spain. When we use 'near' or 'close', we are expressing the position of one thing compared to (with) another or the distance between you and an object. We can use 'near' and 'close', to show that a certain time is approaching or that time will soon arrive. 'Close' can also be used to show a similarity between two things. 'A close resemblance'. 'Close' also expresses a strong emotional connection between family members or friends. We also have 'nearly' and 'closely'. 'Nearly' tends to relate to events and time, while 'closely' tends to relate to two or more objects or an action involving one or more objects.
Really and Actually. There are some subtle differences between 'really' and 'actually', but generally speaking they have the same definition; something real or actual. When expressing an unexpected event or a contradiction, we often prefer to use 'actually'. 'Actually, I don't like going to bars.' 'He actually stood there completely naked!' 'Really' can be used as a single-word response to something incredible. 'Really?'
A special 'hello'. I would now like to give a special mention to a gentleman named Harry Pearle who lives in Rochester-New York, in the USA. Harry has been a keen follower of my video lessons for the past two years and has himself used some of my work over there to demonstrate the educational power of the internet and its usefulness in the classroom. I think to be a good teacher, you must have the passion to do it and always have the next lesson ready in your mind. I always say that it is not the last lesson that defines a teacher, but the one that follows it. It is that same driving passion that I discovered for myself during my time teaching ESL in China. Thank you Harry for your support and keep up the good work over there.
How many ways can we use the word 'always' in a sentence? This question comes from Tetyana watching in the Ukraine. This is not such a difficult one to answer. When we want to express something that often happens to us, or an action that we regularly do or often did, then we use 'always' as a way of showing it. 'I always make sure I'm in bed before midnight.' It can also show that something has never changed. 'I have always done my shopping on a Friday.' It can be used to define something that will not change in the future, such as a vow. 'I will love you… always.'
Head… body… feet… arms… hands… glasses… and… a little hair… and a big smiley face. Look it's me! Before I leave you today, I would like to say a special hello to… Rahma Redha from Constantine in Algeria, who asks about my full lessons. Well Rahma there will be some new full-length lessons appearing on my main channel very soon. Including a new version of lesson 7, all about health and exercise. So keep a look out for that. A special hello also goes out to Alessandra Ribeca watching in Italy. Who asks if there is an easy way of understanding people who speak English quickly or fast. Well even for a native speaker such as myself, there will be times when a certain English accent may be hard to understand.
So do not worry too much about it. Remember, never be afraid to ask a person to repeat what they said, if you did not catch it the first time. Also a big hello to Kursheed Ahmed Khan watching in Pakistan, who I recently has a nice chat with on Facebook about my work here on YouTube. That is all from me for today. Keep on watching, keep on asking and I will see you all again next week, for some more questions and answers. This is Misterduncan in England saying, thank you for asking me and of course… ta-ta for now.