In my Word War post yesterday, I mentioned that bring and take have the same equivalent “in most, if not all, languages in the Philippines.” I have received several direct messages from people saying that there are only two languages in the Philippines—Filipino and English. What about the rest, like Hiligaynon, Bisaya, Waray-Waray, Kinaray-a, Chavacano,... Continue Reading →
Marius walked slowly toward the playground where he and his best friend Drew frequent. There in one of the swings, Drew sat quietly, rocking slowly back and forth. His eyes were fixed on the ground, anger and disappointment blaze. “How dare you leave me like that,” Drew murmured. Marius moved in even closer. “Hey, buddy.... Continue Reading →
When you move something from one place to another, do you bring or take it with you? We use both bring and take to describe carrying or transporting an object or person from a place to somewhere else. To a lot of Filipinos, the subtle difference between bring and take is confusing. How come? In most,... Continue Reading →
When you save something just for someone, do you say that you it's especially or specially for them? Either sounds correct. And that is understandable because both especially and specially are adverbs, which are often interchangeable. At the same time, there are situations where either is a better choice. How do we determine which is... Continue Reading →
No relationship can ever be perfect. You can never force your partner to be faithful in a way that you think you deserve to be treated. In a relationship, we can always be loyal, but rarely honest. What's important—I guess—is that at the end of the day, you find each other side by side, and... Continue Reading →
The only time someone told me my grammar sucks was when I told him to get the first cab going home because his house was farther than mine. That led to an argument whether the correct word was farther or further. To be fair, he was drunk, and I was rather under the influence of alcohol—fine,... Continue Reading →
betrayal (n.) “hurting (someone who trusts you, such as a friend or relative) by doing something morally wrong.” It is sad that in almost any kind of relationship, betrayal is a part of the picture; and the saddest part of it is that in never comes from your enemies, but from the people you hold... Continue Reading →
When you see a bunch of octopus and your friends ask you how many there are, would you say you saw eight octopuses or octopi? Speakers of the English language are divided about the plural of the word octopus. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary, and American Heritage Dictionary affirm that both plural forms are correct, with... Continue Reading →
When your friends talk about a subject that you are not keen about, are you disinterested or uninterested in joining the discussion with them? These words are normally used interchangeably, and quite loosely, by a lot of people, but are there any differences between the two? Quite so. Disinterested can be used to mean “impartial;... Continue Reading →
