Mind Your Own Business

From Twitter

Police Officer: What are you doing in Japan?
American: Mind your own business.*
PO: Ya know my job?
A: Crossing guard?
PO: Nope. Try again.
A: Meter Maid?
PO: No!
A: Tax man!
PO: Wrong.
A: Security guard?
PO (Looks at sky): “…”

*Means:
a. Go to work
b. Care for your concerns

Answer And Explanation:
The answer is b., Care for your concerns. We say this ( “Mind your own business”) when it seems someone is looking into and minding (watching over/involving him or herself in) our affairs unsolicited (unwanted, not asked for). For better and more thorough explanations than this, come to class at Shinjuku English Institute. Social media cannot replace a good teacher in the flesh!

Taking Pictures 加算名詞と不可算名詞の使い方

From Twitter
Taking Pictures: Much or Many & Lots/Usually or Usual
“Fill in” the spaces with the right words:

I take _ pictures whenever I travel; it’s a _ thing for me.

Choose:
*many
*almost
*usual
*much
*once a while

Answers & Explanation
The answers are underlined:
I take many pictures whenever I travel; it’s a usual thing for me.

Many is used with countable things and persons and other animals.
Usual is used with things, too (usually is used with actions.)

Come to class at Shinjuku English Institute for more examples and a barrel of fun.

Getting It Right

From Twitter:

(1.) Can you __ this with me and make sure it’s good? I would like the
(2.) instructor to be impressed when he __ it.

* see
* look
* look over
* look for
* go over
* looks over
* inspect

Answers and Explanations:
1. go over means to review, proof or proof-read.
2. looks over (third-person-singular-present form, which is needed here) means to check, but from the position of a person who knows better, like an advisor, coach, instructor, a teacher, a boss or some other a superior.

Cookies

From Twitter

A: Where do you want me to put the cookies, mom?
B: Not in your stomach–til after dinner.
A: So–where?
1. B: Put ’em __ the fridge.
2. A: Not __ the cabinet with the snacks?
3. B: No, __ the fridge, so your little brother doesn’t eat them now.
A: Okay Ma.

a. on
b. on top of
c. in
d. at

Answers And Explanation:
1. b., on top of more specific than on and refers to the very top of something.
2. c., inWe don’t usually keep cookies in the refrigerator (AKA “fridge”)
3. b., on top ofMother is repeating herself.


Pick Up The Phoneの使い分け(字幕付き)

How do we talk about answering the phone? Well we don’t say:
I’m sorry; I didn’t get your phone.
No one wants you to get(take) his or her phone; get your own phone. (Ha ha.)
However, “get the phone” means “answer the phone (because it is ringing).

Unlike in Japanese, in English, phone and phone call are two different things, conversation-wise, so–we say:

I’m sorry I missed your call.