What kind of a word is should

verb.
Used to form the future tense of the subjunctive mood, usually in the first person. “If I should be late, go without me.” Used to indicate that an action is considered by the speaker to be obligatory.

auxiliary verb
Should is an auxiliary verb – a modal auxiliary verb. We use should mainly to: give advice or make recommendations. talk about obligation.

What type of word is should not?

contraction
contraction of should not.

What type of word is must and should?

The words “should” and “must” are modal auxiliary verbs or simply modals. They provide information about the function of the main verb following it.

Should have to grammar?

The phrase should have to is also used in hypotheticals to mean “should find it necessary to“–in other words, it means “(the subject) is in a situation in which it is necessary to.” Here’s an example: If passengers should have to evacuate, lights leading to the emergency doors will be illuminated.

Is should present tense?

2 Answers. should is the preterite form of the modal verb whose present form is shall. As such, should can be (and is still) used in the past tense, in places where shall would be used in the present tense.

Is should a modal?

The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need.

Should not or should not?

Syntactically, shouldn’t etc. behave like auxiliaries (eg should): they precede the subject when there is an inversion (eg in questions). Should not is not one word, and does not behave like one word. The should is the auxiliary and precedes the subject when there is an inversion.

Should be a must?

The word ‘should be’ denotes a possibility of something happening, whereas the word ‘must be’ is used to represent a certainty. The term ‘should be’ indicates that something can happen, whereas the word ‘must be’ suggests that something has to indeed occur. ‘Should be’ is certainly used to give a piece of advice.

Should I or shouldn t?

We use should and shouldn’t to give advice or to talk about what we think is right or wrong. You should means something like I think it is a good idea for you to do it. You shouldn’t means something like I think it is a bad idea for you to do it.

Would or should use?

Would is used to talk about a possible or imagined situation, and is often used when that possible situation is not going to happen. Should is used to say that something is the proper or best thing to do, or to say that someone ought to do something or must do something.

What are other words for should?

Synonyms of should

• have (to),
• must,
• need,
• ought (to),
• shall.

What is the different between should and shall?

‘Shall’ is used in formal writing and expresses future tense. ‘Should’ is used in informal writing mainly, and as the past tense of ‘Shall’. ‘Shall’ is used to express ideas and laws. ‘Should’ is used to express personal opinions and desires, and primarily to give advice.

Should have should had?

Should had is never grammatically possible. Should is a modal (others are can, could, shall, will, would, must, might). It’s a strict rule that a modal is always followed by the base form of a verb. Should have is used to express regret for a mistake, for not having done something in the past.

Should have to examples?

We use should have + past participle to talk about things we regret. I got really wet walking home last night, I should have taken an umbrella. The speaker did not take an umbrella when she went out last night so she got wet.

What should be mean?

: that ought to be looking out for his should-be guardian.

Is should a tense?

‘Should’, ‘would’ and ‘could’ are auxiliary verbs that can sometimes get confusing. They are the past tense of ‘shall‘, ‘will’ and ‘can’ but are also used in other situations.

Is should an obligation?

The modal verb should expresses weaker obligation than must and have to. should be, should go, should do, etc. We use should for the present and the future. We use should to give advice to someone and to say that something is a good idea.

Why we use should?

We often use should to give advice and make suggestions: You should tell him what you think. We should leave it until tomorrow; it’s late now.

Is should a future tense?

When we make a positive statement with should, we’re talking about something the speaker thinks is a good idea in the future, an upcoming thing so I’ve marked it with a check. To make a positive statement, a simple pattern is your [subject] plus “should” and here, [the present tense form of your verb].

Should Ke sentence?

“You should be doing your homework.” “You should bring a jacket with you.” “They should be arriving soon.” “Their plane should be landing any minute.”

Asked by: Cyrus Corkery

Score: 4.8/5
(59 votes)

The dictionary definition is a good place to start: Oxford English Dictionary definition of should: “Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticising someone’s actions.” Note the word criticising.

What does should be mean?

: that ought to be looking out for his should-be guardian.

What kind of a word is should?

Should is an auxiliary verb — a modal auxiliary verb. We use should mainly to: give advice or make recommendations. talk about obligation.

Should be in a sentence?

«You should be doing your homework.» «You should bring a jacket with you.» «They should be arriving soon.» «Their plane should be landing any minute.»

How do we use should?

‘Should’ can be used:

30 related questions found

Modal verbs always accompany the base (infinitive) form of another verb having semantic content. In English, the modal verbs commonly used are can, could, must, should, had better, have to and sometimes need or dare.

Is should a modal verb?

The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need.

Which form of verb is used with should be?

Modal verbs

Which verb is used after should?

To form these past modals, use could, would, or should followed by have, followed by a past participle verb. Use have for all pronouns; never use has or had to form a past modal. Here are some examples: She could have gone to any college she wanted to.

What is the verb 3 of have?

Have is an irregular verb. Its three forms are have, had, had. The present simple third person singular is has: We usually have breakfast at about eight.

What are the five sentences?

Study the following sentences.

• They have received the parcel.
• She has returned. (
• You have done a good job. (
• They have accepted the offer. (
• She has declined the offer. (
• The offer has been declined by her. (
• She has been reprimanded. (

Does Do example sentence?

Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

• Do you speak English?
• Does John speak French?
• Do we have time for a quick drink?
• Does it rain a lot in the South?
• Do they want to come with me?
• Does she like chocolate?

Where do we use had?

When you need to talk about two things that happened in the past and one event started and finished before the other one started, place “had” before the main verb for the event that happened first. Here are some more examples of when to use “had” in a sentence: “Chloe had walked the dog before he fell asleep.”

Has been or had been?

“Had been” is used to mean that something happened in the past and has already ended. “Have been” and “has been” are used to mean that something began in the past and has lasted into the present time.

What is the difference between was and had?

Had is used as an auxiliary verb for past perfect tenses. Was is used as an auxiliary verb for past continuous tense.

What is difference between had and have?

Have is a present form of the verb ‘to have’ while had is the past form. As an auxiliary verb, have is used in the case of present perfect tense. On the other hand, the auxiliary verb had is used in the case of past perfect tense. Have is used with only plural nouns and pronouns.

When should I use have or had?

In the present perfect, the auxiliary verb is always have (for I, you, we, they) or has (for he, she, it). In the past perfect, the auxiliary verb is always had. We use have had in the present perfect when the main verb is also “have”: I’m not feeling well.

Is have had correct grammar?

“Have had” is using the verb have in the present perfect tense. Consider the present tense sentence: I have a lot of homework.

Is having had correct?

“having had” is actually a modifier phrase and not used often on the GMAT. “have had” is present perfect. Below are examples of how each could be used in a sentence: Having had chicken pox as a child, I will never get that disease again.

Can I say had had?

The past perfect form of have is had had (had + past participle form of have). The past perfect tense is used when we are talking about the past and want to refer back to an earlier past time. She felt marvelous after she had had a good night’s sleep. They dismissed him before he had had a chance to apologize.

Where do we use having in a sentence?

Just like “being,” “having” can act as the subject or object in a sentence. Having is always followed by a noun phrase. We have something. Again, we are talking about this situation or condition of having a big house.

Which form of verb used with should be?

What is the difference between a verb and a noun?

Noun: a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance or quality e.g.’nurse’, ‘cat’, ‘party’, ‘oil’ and ‘poverty’. Verb: a word or phrase that describes an action, condition or experience e.g. ‘run’, ‘look’ and ‘feel’.

What is the difference between a verb and adverb?

The main difference between verbs vs. adverbs is that verbs are action words, and adverbs are description words. Verbs state the action performed by a noun, while adverbs provide more information about how that action is performed.

What is the verb for the noun check?

(tʃek ) Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense checks , present participle checking , past tense, past participle checked. 1. verb. If you check something such as a piece of information or a document, you make sure that it is correct or satisfactory.

What is another word for check in?

What is another word for check in?

register	report
appear	arrive
book in	sign in
sign on	sign up
book oneself in	report one’s arrival

What part of speech is the word check in?

verb

What part of speech is the word themselves?

reflexive pronoun

What type of word is themselves?

What kind of word is yourself?

”Yourself” is a pronoun, so it is used to replace a noun that refers to a person.

Are themselves in a sentence?

language note: Themselves is the third person plural reflexive pronoun. You use themselves to refer to people, animals, or things when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same people or things as the subject of the verb. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves. The men talked amongst themselves.

How do you use the word themselves?

language note: Themselves is the third person plural reflexive pronoun. You use themselves to refer to people, animals, or things when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same people or things as the subject of the verb. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

What does theirselves mean in English?

Theirself is a singular, gender-neutral pronoun used as an alternative to the plural-sounding themselves or to the gender-specific himself or herself. Theirself is used in instances when the gender of the subject is unknown or when the subject has a gender identity other than male or female, such as nonbinary.

What is the difference between themselves and theirselves?

Themselves is the correct word. Theirselves is nonstandard.

Can I say theirself?

There is no such word as “theirselves” (and you certainly can’t spell it “theirselfs” or “thierselves”); it’s “themselves.”

Is it proper to say they themselves?

Themselves is a reflexive pronoun, and in the phrase they themselves, it is an intensive form, which is always treated as a restrictive appositive that is not offset with a comma. Note that they all have reflexive and intensive forms which depends on where they are in the sentence.

Is Theyself a word?

(nonstandard, dialect) Themselves.

“To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.” ~Sven Goran Eriksson

How many times a day do you use the word “should” in reference to yourself or other people? I don’t know about you, but I used to use it a lot.

The word “should” has become a fixture in our everyday dialogue. We use it in conversation with others, as a way of motivating ourselves or keeping ourselves in check, and to express a myriad of feelings, including frustration, guilt, and regret.

As I’ve become more interested in my internal dialogue and how it affects the way I feel about myself, show up in the world, and live my life, I’ve started to realize just how insidious the word “should” can be.

Although I used to “should” myself about a variety of things, many times each day, I realized that telling myself I should be doing more or being more wasn’t actually helping me do more or be more, and it left me feeling like I wasn’t enough as I was.

Equally, I realized that when I told other people they should or shouldn’t do something, I wasn’t respecting their ability to make the best decisions for themselves. That didn’t fit with my personal philosophy (that people are free to do what they want as long as they’re not harming others), and I knew I wasn’t being the best friend or partner while I was using “should”-based vocabulary.

Since I had these realizations, I’ve been on a quest to replace my “should” with alternative vocabulary that is healthier and more accepting—both of myself and of other people. The longer I’m on this quest, the more I realize the damage the word “should” does to our self-relationship and our relationships with others. Here is what I’ve discovered so far:

Two Major Problems with Using the Word “Should”

When we use the word “should,” we’re not accepting reality. We’re talking about things that we wish were so, but aren’t (or vice versa). Whenever I used the word “should” when talking to myself, it was motivated by a lack of self-acceptance rather than encouragement.

As Dr. Shad Helmstetter explains in his book What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, when we tell ourselves that we “should” be doing something, we’re implicitly reinforcing the idea that we’re not doing it.

If we say to ourselves “I should really meditate more often,” the unspoken follow-up to that sentence is “…but I don’t.

Equally, if we say, “I should really be exercising this morning,” the unspoken ending to that sentence is “…but I’m not.”

In the long-term, when we tell ourselves or other people that we should or they should be doing something (as well-meaning as we might be), we’re reinforcing the negative, and the fact that we or they are not doing it.

Alternatives to “Should”

I won’t pretend that removing the word “should” from my vocabulary has been easy, or that I’ve arrived and currently inhabit a “should”-free existence. I used to use the word “should” a lot and, in truth, I think it’s something I’ll have to keep an eye on for the rest of my life.

For now, however, I’ve found some alternatives helpful in overcoming my habit of “should”-ing myself and other people.

1. Focus on the benefits.

Instead of telling myself I “should” be doing more of something, I try to focus on why I want to do that particular thing.

Instead of saying “I should do more yoga,” I remind myself of why I want to do this: “I feel great when I do yoga a few times each week,” “I enjoy feeling myself relax and stretch out when I do yoga,” or “I feel a greater sense of self-connection when I make time to connect my body and my breathing in yoga.”

2. Focus on how the activity fits with your values.

One of the biggest things I used to “should” myself about was being on time. I struggled to turn up on time for work, appointments, meeting up with friends, and pretty much anything that was due to start at a set time. It was a constant battle with myself and, of course, telling myself “You should be on time” or “You shouldn’t be late” did nothing to change my tardiness.

Instead, I started reframing this from the perspective of my values. I started telling myself “It’s really important to me to be on time,” or “I want to live with integrity and do what I say I’m going to do, when I say I’m going to do it.”

3. Focus on accepting and exploring reality.

I used to think that I shouldn’t feel angry or jealous. I had heard they were “unhealthy” feelings to experience and had the belief that there was something wrong with me for feeling that way. No matter how much I told myself that I shouldn’t feel these things, however, they didn’t go away.

Now, I focus on accepting my experience. Instead of telling myself “I shouldn’t be feeling/thinking _____,” I take a step back and say, “Okay, I’m feeling/thinking _____. I wonder why that’s happening now?”

Removing the word “should” from your vocabulary will take time, patience, and practice. But it is possible, and it comes with great rewards. Replacing “should” with more helpful dialogue will lead to a kinder relationship with yourself, and better relationships with the people around you too.

Photo by Hartwig HKD

See a typo or inaccuracy? Please contact us so we can fix it!

Присоединяйтесь к Reverso, это удобно и бесплатно!

английский

арабский
немецкий
английский
испанский
французский
иврит
итальянский
японский
корейский
голландский
польский
португальский
румынский
русский
шведский
турецкий
украинский
китайский

Показать больше
(греческий, хинди, тайский, чешский…)

чешский
датский
греческий
фарси
хинди
венгерский
словацкий
тайский

Показать меньше

русский

Синонимы
арабский
немецкий
английский
испанский
французский
иврит
итальянский
японский
корейский
голландский
польский
португальский
румынский
русский
шведский
турецкий
украинский
китайский

Показать больше

чешский
датский
греческий
фарси
хинди
венгерский
словацкий
тайский

Показать меньше

На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.

На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.

What Kind of Words Should We Speak? (2)

Someone comes into your arms, and the kind words speak themselves; you’re not doing it.

Such kind words you always speak about me.

That you choose kind words to speak not only to others but also to yourself.

Ничего не найдено для этого значения.

Результатов: 1064791. Точных совпадений: 1. Затраченное время: 441 мс

Documents

Корпоративные решения

Спряжение

Синонимы

Корректор

Справка и о нас

Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900

Индекс выражения: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200

Индекс фразы: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200

© 2013-2022 Reverso Technologies Inc. Все права защищены.

kind of word — перевод на русский

kind of word — за слово

Показать ещё примеры для «за слово»…

Chapter 1 which word should we choose, formal or informal?

Just as there is formal and informal dress, so there is formal and informal speech. One is not supposed to turn up at a ministerial reception or at a scientific symposium wearing a pair of brightly coloured pyjamas. (Jeans are scarcely suitable for such occasions either, though this may be a matter of opinion.) Consequently, the social context in which the communication is taking place determines both the mode of dress and the modes of speech. When placed in different situations, people instinctively choose different kinds of words and structures to express their thoughts. The suitability or unsuitability of a word for each particular situation depends on its stylistic characteristics or, in other words, on the functional style it represents.

The term functional style is generally accepted in modern linguistics. Professor I, V. Arnold defines it as «a system of expressive means peculiar to a specific sphere of communication». [23]

By the sphere of communication we mean the circumstances attending the process of speech in each particular case: professional communication, a lecture, an informal talk, a formal letter, an intimate letter, a speech in court, etc.

All these circumstances or situations can be roughly classified into two types: formal (a lecture, a speech in court, an official letter, professional communication) and informal (an informal talk, an intimate letter).

Accordingly, functional styles are classified into two groups, with further subdivisions depending on different situations.

Informal Style

Informal vocabulary is used in one’s immediate circle: family, relatives or friends. One uses informal words when at home or when feeling at home.

Informal style is relaxed, free-and-easy, familiar and unpretentious. But it should be pointed out that the informal talk of well-educated people considerably differs from that of the illiterate or the semi-educated; the choice of words with adults is different from the vocabulary of teenagers; people living in the provinces use certain regional words and expressions. Consequently, the choice of words is determined in each particular case not only by an informal (or formal) situation, but also by the speaker’s educational and cultural background, age group, and his occupational and regional characteristics.

Informal words and word-groups are traditionally divided into three types: colloquial, slang and dialect words and word-groups.

Colloquial Words

Among other informal words, colloquialisms are the least exclusive: they are used by everybody, and their sphere of communication is comparatively wide, at least of literary colloquial words. These are informal words that are used in everyday conversational speech both by cultivated and uneducated people of all age groups. The sphere of communication of literary colloquial words also includes the printed page, which shows that the term «colloquial» is somewhat inaccurate.

Vast use of informal words is one of the prominent features of 20th century English and American literature. It is quite natural that informal words appear in dialogues in which they realistically reflect the speech of modern people:

«You’re at some sort of technical college?» she said to Leo, not looking at him … .

«Yes. I hate it though. I’m not good enough at maths. There’s a chap there just down from Cambridge who puts us through it. I can’t keep up. Were you good at maths?»

«Not bad. But I imagine school maths are different.»

«Well, yes, they are. I can’t cope with this stuff at all, it’s the whole way of thinking that’s beyond me… I think I’m going to chuck it and take a. job.»

(From The Time of the Angels by I. Murdoch)

However, in modern fiction informal words are not restricted to conversation in their use, but frequently appear in descriptive passages as well. In this way the narrative is endowed with conversational features. The author creates an intimate, warm, informal atmosphere, meeting his reader, as it were, on the level of a friendly talk, especially when the narrative verges upon non-personal direct speech.

«Fred Hardy was a bad lot. Pretty women, chemin de fer, and an unlucky knack for backing the wrong horse had landed him in the bankruptcy court by the time he was twenty-five …

…If he thought of his past it was with complacency; he had had a good time, he had enjoyed his ups and downs’, and now, with good health and a clear conscience, he was prepared to settle down as a country gentleman, damn it, bring up the kids as kids should be brought up; and when the old buffer who sat for his Constituency pegged out, by George, go into Parliament himself.»

(From Rain and Other Short Stories by W. S. Maugham)

Here are some more examples of literary colloquial words. Pal and chum are colloquial equivalents of friend; girl, when used colloquially, denotes a woman of any age; bite and snack stand for meal; hi, hello are informal greetings, and so long a form of parting; start, go on, finish and be through are also literary colloquialisms; to have a crush on somebody is a colloquial equivalent of to be in love. A bit (of) and a lot (of) also belong to this group.

A considerable number of shortenings are found among words of this type. E. g. pram, exam, fridge, flu, prop, zip, movie.

Verbs with post-positional adverbs are also numerous among colloquialisms: put up, put over, make up, make out, do away, turn up, turn in, etc.

Literary colloquial words are to be distinguished from familiar colloquial and low colloquial.

The borderline between the literary and familiar colloquial is not always clearly marked. Yet the circle of speakers using familiar colloquial is more limited:

these words are used mostly by the young and the semi-educated. This vocabulary group closely verges on slang and has something of its coarse flavour.

E. g. doc (for doctor), hi (for how do you do), ta-ta (for good-bye), goings-on (for behaviour, usually with a negative connotation), to kid smb. (for tease, banter), to pick up smb. (for make a quick and easy acquaintance), go on with you (for let me alone), shut up (for keep silent), beat it (for go away).

Low colloquial is defined by G. P. Krapp as uses «characteristic of the speech of persons who may be broadly described as uncultivated». [31] This group is stocked with words of illiterate English which do not present much interest for our purposes.

The problem of functional styles is not one of purely theoretical interest, but represents a particularly important aspect of the language-learning process. Students of English should be taught how to choose stylistically suitable words for each particular speech situation.

So far as colloquialisms are concerned, most students’ mistakes originate from the ambiguousness of the term itself. Some students misunderstand the term «colloquial» and accept it as a recommendation for wide usage (obviously mistaking «colloquial» for «conversational»). This misconception may lead to most embarrassing errors unless it is taken care of in the early stages of language study.

As soon as the first words marked «colloquial» appear in the students’ functional vocabulary, it should be explained to them that the marker «colloquial» (as, indeed, any other stylistic marker) is not a recommendation for unlimited usage but, on the contrary, a sign of restricted usage. It is most important that the teacher should carefully describe the typical situations to which colloquialisms are restricted and warn the students against using them under formal circumstances or in their compositions and reports.

Literary colloquial words should not only be included in the students’ functional and recognition vocabularies, but also presented and drilled in suitable contexts and situations, mainly in dialogues. It is important that students should be trained to associate these words with informal, relaxed situations.

Slang

Much has been written on the subject of slang that is contradictory and at the same time very interesting.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines slang as «language of a highly colloquial style, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense.» [33]

This definition is inadequate because it equates slang with colloquial style. The qualification «highly» can hardly serve as the criterion for distinguishing between colloquial style and slang.

Yet, the last line of the definition «current words in some special sense» is important and we shall have to return to this a little later.

Here is another definition of slang by the famous English writer G. K. Chesterton:

«The one stream of poetry which in constantly flowing is slang. Every day some nameless poet weaves some fairy tracery of popular language. …All slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry. …The world of slang is a kind of topsy-turvydom of poetry, full of blue moons and white elephants, of men losing their heads, and men whose tongues run away with them — a whole chaos of fairy tales.» [10]

The first thing that attracts attention in this enthusiastic statement is that the idioms which the author quotes have long since ceased being associated with slang: neither once in a blue moon, nor the white elephant, nor your tongue has run away with you are indicated as slang in modern dictionaries. This is not surprising, for slang words and idioms are short-lived and very soon either disappear or lose their peculiar colouring and become either colloquial or stylistically neutral lexical units.

As to the author’s words «all slang is metaphor», it is a true observation, though the second part of the statement «all metaphor is poetry» is difficult to accept, especially if we consider the following examples: mug (for face), saucers, blinkers (for eyes), trap (for mouth, e. g. Keep your trap shut), dogs (for feet), to leg (it) (for to walk).

All these meanings are certainly based on metaphor, yet they strike one as singularly unpoetical.

Henry Bradley writes that «Slang sets things in their proper place with a smile. So, to call a hat ‘a lid’ and a head ‘a nut’ is amusing because it puts a hat and a pot-lid in the same class». [17] And, we should add, a head and a nut in the same class too.

«With a smile» is true. Probably «grin» would be a more suitable word. Indeed, a prominent linguist observed that if colloquialisms can be said to be wearing dressing-gowns and slippers, slang is wearing a perpetual foolish grin. The world of slang is inhabited by odd creatures indeed: not by men, but by guys (R. чучела) and blighters or rotters with nuts for heads, mugs for faces, flippers for hands.

All or most slang words are current words whose meanings have been metaphorically shifted. Each slang metaphor is rooted in a joke, but not in a kind or amusing joke. This is the criterion for distinguishing slang from colloquialisms: most slang words are metaphors and jocular, often with a coarse, mocking, cynical colouring.

This is one of the common objections against slang: a person using a lot of slang seems to be sneering and jeering at everything under the sun. This objection is psychological. There are also linguistic ones.

G. H. McKnight notes that «originating as slang expressions often do, in an insensibility to the meaning of legitimate words, the use of slang checks an acquisition of a command over recognized modes of expression … and must result in atrophy of the faculty of using language». [34]

H. W. Fowler states that «as style is the great antiseptic, so slang is the great corrupting matter, it is perishable, and infects what is round it». [27]

McKnight also notes that «no one capable of good speaking or good writing is likely to be harmed by the occasional employment of slang, provided that he is conscious of the fact…» [34]

Then why do people use slang?

For a number of reasons. To be picturesque, arresting, striking and, above all, different from others. To avoid the tedium of outmoded hackneyed «common» words. To demonstrate one’s spiritual independence and daring. To sound «modern» and «up-to-date».

It doesn’t mean that all these aims are achieved by using slang. Nor are they put in so many words by those using slang on the conscious level. But these are the main reasons for using slang as explained by modern psychologists and linguists.

The circle of users of slang is more narrow than that of colloquialisms. It is mainly used by the young and uneducated. Yet, slang’s colourful and humorous quality makes it catching, so that a considerable part of slang may become accepted by nearly all the groups of speakers.

Dialect Words

H. W. Fowler defines a dialect as «a variety of a language which prevails in a district, with local peculiarities of vocabulary, pronunciation and phrase». [19] England is a small country, yet it has many dialects which have their own distinctive features (e. g. the Lancashire, Dorsetshire, Norfolk dialects).

So dialects are regional forms of English. Standard English is defined by the Random House Dictionary as the English language as it is written and spoken by literate people in both formal and informal usage and that is universally current while incorporating regional differences. [54]

Dialectal peculiarities, especially those of vocabulary, are constantly being incorporated into everyday colloquial speech or slang. From these levels they can be transferred into the common stock, i. e. words which are not stylistically marked (see «The Basic Vocabulary», Ch. 2) and a few of them even into formal speech and into the literary language. Car, trolley, tram began as dialect words.

A snobbish attitude to dialect on the part of certain educationalists and scholars has been deplored by a number of prominent linguists. E. Partridge writes:

«The writers would be better employed in rejuvenating the literary (and indeed the normal cultured) language by substituting dialectal freshness, force, pithiness, for standard exhaustion, feebleness, long-windedness than in attempting to rejuvenate it with Gallicisms, Germanicisms, Grecisms and Latinisms.» [38]

In the following extract from The Good Companions by J. B. Priestley, the outstanding English writer ingeniously and humorously reproduces his native Yorkshire dialect. The speakers are discussing a football match they have just watched. The author makes use of a number of dialect words and grammatical structures and, also, uses spelling to convey certain phonetic features of «broad Yorkshire».

«‘Na Jess!’ said the acquaintance, taking an imitation calabash pipe out of his mouth and then winking mysteriously.

‘Na Jim!’ returned Mr. Oakroyd. This ‘Na’ which must once have been ‘Now’, is the recognized salutation in Bruddersford,1 and the fact that it sounds more like a word of caution than a word of greeting is by no means surprising. You have to be careful in Bruddersford.

‘Well,’ said Jim, falling into step, ‘what did you think on ’em?’

‘Think on ’em!’ Mr. Oakroyd made a number of noises with his tongue to show what he thought of them.

… ‘Ah ’11 tell tha1 what it is, Jess,’ said his companion, pointing the stem of his pipe and becoming broader in his Yorkshire as he grew more philosophical. ‘If t’ United2 had less brass2 to lake3 wi’, they’d lake better football.’ His eyes searched the past for a moment, looking for the team that had less money and had played better football.’ Tha can remember when t’ club had nivver4 set eyes on two thousand pahnds, when t’ job lot wor not worth two thahsand pahnds, pavilion and all, and what sort of football did they lake then? We know, don’t we? They could gi’ thee1 summat5 worth watching then. Nah, it’s all nowt,6 like t’ ale an’ baccy7 they ask so mich8 for — money fair thrawn away, ah calls it. Well, we mun9 ‘a’ wer teas and get ower it. Behave thi-sen,10 Jess!’ And he turned away, for that final word of caution was only one of Bruddersford’s familiar good-byes.

‘Ay,11’ replied Mr. Oakroyd dispiritedly. ‘So long, Jim!'»

1 tha (thee) — the objective case of thou; 2 brass — money; 3 to lake — to play;

4 nivver — never; 5 summat — something; 6 nowt — nothing; 7 baccy — tobacco;

8 mich — much; 9 тип — must; 10 thi-sen (= thy-self) — yourself; 11 ay(e) — yes.

Exercises

I. Consider your answers to the following.

1. What determines the choice of stylistically marked words in each particular situation?

2. In what situations are informal words used?

3. What are the main kinds of informal words? Give a brief description of each group.

4. What is the difference between colloquialisms and slang? What are their common features? Illustrate your answer with examples.

5. What are the main features of dialect words?

II. The italicized words and word-groups in the following extracts are informal. Write them out in two columns and explain in each case why you consider the word slang/colloquial. Look up any words yon do not know in your dictionary.

1. Т h e Flower Girl…. Now you are talking! I thought you’d come off it when you saw a chance of getting back a bit of what you chucked at me last night.1 (Confidentially.) You’d had a drop in, hadn’t you?

2. Liza. What call would a woman with that strength in her have to die of influenza? What become of her new straw hat that should have come to me? Somebody pinched it; and what I say is, them as pinched it done her in.

Mrs. Eynsfordhill. What does doing her in mean?

Higgins (hastily). Oh, thats the new small talk. To do a person in means to kill them.

3.Higgins. I’ve picked up a girl. Mrs. Higgins. Does that mean that some girl has picked you up?

Higgins. Not at all. I don’t mean a love affair. Mrs. Higgins. What a pity!

(From Pygmalion by B. Shaw)

4. Jасk (urgently): Mrs. Palmer, if I ask you a straight question, will you please give me a straight answer?

Muriel: All right. Fire away. Jack: Is your mother divorced? Muriel: Divorced? Mum? Of course not. Jack (quietly): Thank you. That was what I had already gathered.

Muriel: Mind you, she’s often thought of divorcing Dad, but somehow never got round to doing it. Not that she’s got a good word to say for him, mind you. She says he was the laziest, pettiest, most selfish chap she’s ever come across in all her life. «He’ll come to a sticky end,» she used to say to me, when I was a little girl. «You mark my words, Mu,» she used to say, «if your Dad doesn’t end his days in jail my name’s not Flossie Gosport.»

(From Harlequinade by T. Rattigan)

5. My wife has been kiddin’ me about my friends ever since we was married. She says that … they ain’t nobody in the world got a rummier bunch of friends than me. I’ll admit that the most of them ain’t, well, what you might call hot; they’re different somehow than when I first hung around with them. They seem to be lost without a brass rail to rest their dogs on. But of course they are old friends and I can’t give them the air.

(From Short Stories by R. Lardner)

III. a. Read the following extract.

A young man, Freddie by name, had invited a pretty young girl April to a riverside picnic. April could not come and sent her little sister to keep Freddie company.

It was naturally with something of a pang that Freddie tied the boat up at their destination. … The only living thing for miles around appeared to be an elderly horse which was taking a snack on the river-bank. In other words, if only April had been there and the kid hadn’t, they would have been alone together with no human eye to intrude upon their sacred solitude. They could have read Tennyson to each other till they were blue in the face, and not a squawk from a soul.

… Still, as the row had given him a nice appetite, he soon dismissed these wistful yearnings and started unpacking the luncheon-basket. And at the end of about twenty minutes he felt that it would not be amiss to chat with his little guest.

«Had enough?» he asked.

«No,» said the kid. «But there isn’t any more.»

«You seem to tuck away your food all right.»

«The girls at school used to call me Teresa the Tapeworm,» said the kid with a touch of pride.

It suddenly struck Freddie as a little odd that with July only half over this child should be at large. The summer holidays, as he remembered it, always used to start round about the first of August.

«Why aren’t you at school now?»

«I was bunked last month.»

«Really?» said Freddie, interested. «They gave you the push, did they? What for?»

«Shooting pigs.»

«Shooting pigs?»

«With a bow and arrow. One pig, that is to say. Percival. He belonged to Miss Maitland, the headmistress. Do you ever pretend to be people in books?»

«Never. And don’t stray from the point at issue. I want to get to the bottom of this thing about the pig.»

«I’m not straying from the point at issue. I was playing William Tell.»

«The old apple-knocker, you mean?»

«The man who shot an apple off his son’s head. I tried to get one of the girls to put the apple on her head, but she wouldn’t, so I went down to the pigsty and put it on Percival’s. And the silly goop shook it off and started to eat it just as I was shooting, which spoiled my aim and I got him on the left ear. He was

rather vexed about it. So was Miss Maitland. Especially as I was supposed to be in disgrace at the time, because I had set the dormitory on fire the night before.»

«Freddie blinked a bit.»

«You set the dormitory on fire?»

«Yes.»

«Any special reason, or just a passing whim?»

«I was playing Florence Nightingale.»

«Florence Nightingale?»

«The Lady with the Lamp. I dropped the lamp.»

«Tell me,» said Freddie. «This Miss Maitland of yours. What colour is her hair?»

«Grey.»

«I thought as much.»

(From Young Men in Spats by P. G. Wodehouse)

b. Write out the informal words and word-groups which occur in the above passage and explain why you think the author uses so many of them.

IV. Read the following jokes. Write out the informal words and word-groups and say whether they are colloquial, slang or dialect.

1. A Yankee passenger in an English train was beguiling his fellow passengers with tall stories1 and remarked: «We can start with a twenty-story apartment house this month, and have if finished by next.»

This was too much for the burly Yorkshireman, who sat next to him. «Man, that’s nowt», he said. «I’ve seen ’em in Yorkshire when I’ve been going to work just laying the foundation stone and when I’ve been coming home at neet they’ve been putting the folk out for back rent.»

2. A driver and his family had gathered bluebells, primrose roots, budding twigs and so on from a country lane. Just before they piled into the car to move off Father approached a farmer who was standing nearby and asked: «Can we take this road to Sheffield?» The farmer eyed the car and its contents sourly, then: «Aye, you mun as well, you’ve takken nigh everything else around here.»

V. Make up a dialogue using colloquial words from your lists and from the extracts given in the chapter.

a. In the first dialogue, two undergraduates are discussing why one of them has been expelled from his college. (Don’t forget that young people use both literary and familiar colloquial words.)

b. In the second dialogue, the parents of the dismissed student are wondering what to do with him. (Older people, as you remember, are apt to be less informal in their choice of words.)

Last Updated on December 5, 2022

Positive words create a ripple effect.

If you’re kind to one person, that person will return the favor and be kind to someone else. And that someone will also want to be kind to another person.

It will go on and on.

So in this post, let’s find out what positive words you can use to bring joy to other people’s lives.

The Effect of Positive Words

Positive words are kind and powerful. They can help someone stay positive in negative situations.

The power of a positive word kind of makes sense then, especially for those that want to foster a nurturing environment. A sentence then can spell the difference between a good and a bad day.

When is the right time to share sweet and lovely words with your father, mother, child, partner, or colleague? Here are a few instances:

• When Sharing Wisdom — People learn better with positivity. As the Venn Diagram above shows, they perform well if they like their environment.
• When You Want to Grow a Relationship — Positivity often begets positivity. So if you influence your loved ones in a positive light, you will also receive positivity.
• When You Make Comments at Work — Challenging times at the office becomes easier with mutual kindness.
• When Someone Is Moving Away — Imagine moving to a new place. Somewhere far away from your homeland’s villages. Wouldn’t you want to hear words of kindness that make a difference? Yes? So does your friend.

Examples of Kind Words and Phrases

Using kind words is important. You can use positive words as inspirational or motivational tools to help people achieve better things in life. Be it a noun or an adjective, any positive thing you can say will create a pleasant effect on someone’s day.

Besides, there’s no real reason why you can’t be generous and gracious with uplifting words. They won’t cost you anything to do so.

Use Positive Words to Compliment

Any kind and positive word can make a person’s day. And the same kind of words assures that special someone that they’re being noticed. So whenever you interact with someone, slip in compliments.

Any compliment works wonders. Try to share these words, though:

• “You look vibrant. Why do you seem so happy?”
• “That attire makes you appear more attractive.”
• “You’re a splendid baker. No wonder our colleagues look forward to the cookies you bring to work.”

Use Positive Words to Encourage

If you see someone struggling, kind words can help them out. The words they hear can strengthen them and give them the push they could use.

Tips? Acknowledge their struggles. And assure them of positive results.

Here are examples:

• “Don’t worry. Hard work pays off. As long as you’re doing things right, your invested effort won’t go to waste.”
• “Wow! I admire you for working on this website for years. Keep it up and you’ll reap magnificent rewards soon.”
• “Your dedication is one-of-a-kind. I have a great feeling you’ll be glad about your work.”

Use Positive Words to Inspire New Beginnings

Say, someone believes their life sucks. And sadly, they feel so strongly about it.

Changing their minds may not resolve the situation. If you’d argue with them, chances are, they’ll resent you for wasting their time.

The solution? Let them hear the words below.

• “Don’t forget to look on the bright side. There’s always a silver lining to every problem.”
• “People make mistakes. But that doesn’t mean they can’t correct them.”
• “You need to leave behind the things that slow you down. They might have introduced significant experiences before. But for you to move forward, they have to go.”

Use Positive Words to Provide Constructive Feedback

Want to help someone improve their ways?

Then be valuable while you stay kind. Stick to useful comments and don’t demean them. As much as possible, be specific about what you’re getting at.

• “I love how you streamlined the process. I hope you do it as well soon.”
• “Great eye on even the smallest detail of this program. And I’d appreciate it if you work more in this area.”
• “Congratulations on the job well done. You’ve corrected the errors and omitted the unnecessary lines.”

Use Positive Words to Show Appreciation

Let someone know you appreciate their work. It makes them feel valuable. And it inspires them to do more.

Here’s what you can say:

• “Thanks for the job well done. I appreciate that you always put a game face on and knock out challenges relentlessly.”
• “Your help and support means a lot. I might not have done it without you.”
• “Everything you touch seems to turn into gold. I’m so grateful you contributed to this project.”

Final Thoughts

Dealing with stubborn and toxic people?

I have to admit. It’s not always easy to be kind to others.

However, be kind to them, anyway. If you can’t say anything kind to them, be the bigger person, and walk away.