花子さんは遅くなります。 × Hanako is a little late. ◎ Hanako will be a little late.
Sample Dialog:
A: Mr. Smith. B: Yes? A: Hanako will be a little late.* B: Oh, really? OK. Thanks. A: Sure.
* "...will be late" の代わりに、"She is coming soon" or "She will be here soon" もう言います。
Question from K-san:
K: How do you say, "奥さんの好みの洋服をあなたが買いますか。" in English? C: Well, maybe you could say, "Do you buy clothes that accommodate your wife's tastes?"
A more natural question for this situation might be, "Do you buy your own clothes or does your wife buy them for you?"
Sample Dialog:
A: Do you buy clothes that accommodate your wife's tastes? B: No, I don't. I pick out clothes that suit my own tastes. --- A: Do you buy your own clothes or does your wife buy them for you? B: I usually buy my own clothes. My wife likes to buy clothes for me, but I am very picky about what I wear. So, I would rather pick out my own clothes.
私は一年前～博物館に行った事があります。 × Before I have been to ～ museum one year ago. ◎ I went to ～ museum one year ago. ◎ I have been to ～ museum.
celebrity: 有名人、著名人、名士 （単に名前が知られている(famous)だけではなく、マスコミを通じて大衆の関心を集めるような人を指す。） (A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention.)
Here is Eisaku's reply to my email. Please compare the original version with the suggested version. Can you find the changes?
--- Original Version ---
Dear Mr.Chip
It's Ok. I want to change to the lesson on Saturday, October 27 at 15:30 p.m. I am looking forward to the next class.
Sincerely yours
Eisaku
--- Suggested Version ---
Dear Chip,
It's OK. I want to change my lesson to Saturday, October 27 at 3:30 p.m.
I am looking forward to the next class.
Sincerely yours,
Eisaku
--- Notes ---
× Dear Mr.Chip ◎ Dear Mr. Sorensen,
1. The greeting of an email or letter needs a comma (,) or a colon (:) after the name. 2. You must add one blank space after the period and the name.
× Mr.Jones / Mrs.Suzuki / Ms.Smith ◎ Mr. Jones / Mrs. Suzuki / Ms. Smith
3. Do not use Mr., Mrs., or Ms. with a first name. Use an honorific only with a last name or a full name. For casual email, use "Dear" + "first name / nickname." Examples:
Dear Chip, (casual greeting)
Dear Chipper, (casual greeting with a nickname)
Dear Mr. Sorensen, (semi-casual greeting)
Dear Mr. Sorensen: (formal business greeting)
Dear Chip Sorensen, (informal business greeting)
Dear Chip Sorensen: (formal business greeting)
× It's Ok. ◎ It's OK.
1. "Ok" is spelled two ways: OK or okay.
× 15:30 p.m. ◎ 3:30 p.m. ◎ 15:30
1. Do not use 15:30 p.m. This is redundant. 2. Use A.M. or P.M. with a 12-hour time. 3. Using a 24-hour time is common in Japan and some other countries in Asia and Europe. However, in North America, most people do not use 24-hour time--24-hour time is more common among emergency personnel and the military. To be safe, use 12-hour time.
× Sincerely yours ◎ Sincerely yours,
1. When closing an email or a letter, you need to add a comma at the end.
