* 17 Particular Conversational Matters (p.9 of 9)
17.57�� When a place is clean
This place is clean as a whistle.�� Listen�� <�My sister is an excellent housewife. Look around. This place is clean as a whistle.�>
It's so clean you could eat off the floor.�� Listen�� (Here you may be impersonal and mean one)�� <�Her kitchen is really clean. It is so clean you could eat off the floor.�>
This place is spotless.�� Listen�� <�Every day cleaners make sure everything in The Grand Hotel is immaculate. This is why this place is spotless.�>
17.58�� When a place is messy
This place is a mess.�� Listen�� <�How can you live here? This place is a mess.�>
This place is a disgrace.�� Listen�� <�Look at your room. This place is a disgrace.�>
This place looks like it went through a war.�� Listen�� <�Clean your room. This place looks like it went through a war.�>
This place looks like a disaster area.�� Listen�� <�Please pick up your room. This place looks like a disaster area.�>
This place looks like a tornado hit it.�� Listen�� <�Pick up after yourself. This place looks like a tornado hit it.�>
This place is run down.�� Listen�� A �This place is dilapidated.��� <�The owner moved away a while ago. Now, this place is run down.�>
What a mess!�� Listen�� <�What a mess! Your clothes are scattered all around the room.�>
What a pit!�� Listen�� <�What a pit! Were you raised in a barn?�>
What a dump!�� Listen�� <�What a dump! You live like a pig.�>
How about cleaning up a little around here?�� Listen�� <�Your room is a mess. How about cleaning up a little around here?�>
How do you expect to find anything in this mess?�� Listen�� <�When did you clean up your room last time? How do you expect to find anything in this mess?�>
How can you find anything in here?�� Listen�� <�Your place is a pigsty. How can you find anything in here?�>
17.59�� When you talk about likes and dislikes
I like fresh fruit.�� Listen�� �< � �What kind of fresh fruit do you like best?�>
I like action movies.�� Listen�� < � �What is your favorite action movie?�>
I don't like coffee.�� Listen�� < � �Really? Do you like tea?�>
Do you like Chinese food?�� Listen�� < � �Yes, a lot.�>
How do you like it?�� Listen�� A �Is this thing to your liking? How do you rate this thing?��� <�Are you reading the book I gave you?� � �Yes, slowly.� � �How do you like it?� � �It�s interesting. But it�s a little boring in the beginning.�>
17.60�� When you ask about somebody's favorite things
What is your favorite color?�� Listen�� < � �My favorite color is blue. What about you?�>
What is your favorite movie genre?�� Listen�� < � �My favorite movie genre is science fiction. And what kind of movies do you like?�>
Who is your favorite movie star?�� Listen�� < � �My favorite actor is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And who is yours?�>
What's your favorite kind of music?�� Listen�� < � �I like jazz and pop music.�>
Who is your favorite musician?�� Listen�� < � �My favorite performer is Paul McCartney.�>
What kind of food do you like best?�� Listen�� < � �I like Italian cuisine.�>
What city do you like most?�� Listen�� < � �My favorite city is Los Angeles.�>
17.61�� When you highlight the importance of unity
United we stand, divided we fall.�� Listen�� A �When we are a group we are hard to defeat, when we are separate we are easy to defeat.��� <At the meeting, the members of the trade union unanimously decided to go on strike. The chairman said contentedly, �United we stand, divided we fall.�>
One for all, and all for one!�� Listen�� A �A person is loyal to a group, a group is loyal to a person.��� <The King�s musketeers rushed upon the enemy shouting their battle cry, �One for all, and all for one!�>
Birds of a feather flock together.�� Listen�� A �People who share similarities associate with each other.��� <�Our country is relatively small. All the people in our country are distant relatives. Our parents and the parents of our parents have lived here for thousands of years. We have common interests. Birds of a feather flock together.�>
A house divided against itself cannot stand.�� Listen�� A �A group that lacks unity will break apart.��� <�Accord shall be maintained in our union at all costs. A house divided against itself cannot stand.�>
17.62�� When you want to sound nostalgic
Those were the days, my friend!�� Listen�� A �Those were the glorious days of our life!��� <�Back in the seventies, people had moral values. Those were the days, my friend!�>
Back in the good old days.�� Listen�� <�Back in the good old days, when I was young, the sky was blue and the factories employed thousands of people.�>
When I was your age, I was so clever.�� Listen�� <�When I was your age, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut.�>
When I was a kid, I was so agile.�� Listen�� <�When I was a kid, people knew right from wrong.�>
17.63�� When you highlight change
Things change with times.�� Listen�� A �Things assume new forms as time goes by.��� <�Schools are much better now.� � �Well, things change with times.�>
Times are changing.�� Listen�� A �Things are changing in a surprising manner as time goes by.��� <�Last year, more passengers travelled by airplane than by train.� � �Times are changing. Nobody rides a horse anymore.�>
Times have changed.�� Listen�� A �Things are now different.��� <�Children seem to be disinterested in sports.� � �Times have changed. Children spend more time with computers than outdoors.�>
Times change, people change.�� Listen�� A �New things become acceptable as people change with time.��� <�At my time, a young lady wouldn�t wear clothes that some girls wear these days.� � �Times change, people change. Such clothes aren�t considered immodest anymore.�>
Times change and we with time.�� Listen�� A �People change as time passes.��� <�I remember your sister as a young Democrat. Now she is a Republican activist. What happened?� � �Times change and we with time.�>
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