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Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.(2020/07/03 09:30)
The other day, I started crossing a busy street in Washington, D.C., while looking at my phone. Suddenly, I heard a man shout, “Watch out!” He was telling me about an oncoming car. I did not know that the crossing light was red. The words “Watch out!” made me quickly return to the sidewalk.
I learned something that day: Phones can be distracting! And I remembered how useful warnings are.
To warn someone means to tell the person about possible danger or trouble. In English, there are several ways to do this.
Today on Everyday Grammar, we will talk about warning phrases Americans use in different situations.
Some warnings are urgent and immediate. Others are a form of direct or indirect advice — often about what not to do.
Immediate danger
Let us talk first about warnings of immediate danger.
When warning someone of danger, you can say, “Watch out!” just like the man said to me on the street. You can also say, “Look out!” or “Be careful!”
For example, it could be that a moving vehicle or large animal is near. Or you might want to tell someone quickly that they will fall or crash into something or someone. Or you see a heavy object is going to drop or hit someone.
Listen to these warnings:
Look out for that tree!
Watch out! There’s a car coming.
Be careful! The floor is wet.
Americans often say, “Careful!” instead of “Be Careful!” Short, quick warnings of danger can be very effective.
Note also that we sometimes use “Careful” or “Be careful” in situations that are not urgent. For instance, if someone touches a valuable item and you want them to do it carefully, you can say, “Please be careful.” Or, if someone you know plans to walk around alone at night, you can tell them to be careful.
Indirect warnings
Another kind of warning is an indirect warning, sometimes called a weak warning. These are just like giving advice — yet they are advice about what not to do. You probably would only give such warnings to people you know.
Indirect: I wouldn’t if I were you
One of the most common ways we advise someone against doing something is with the phrase, “I wouldn’t…if I were you.”
Listen to an example:
I wouldn’t eat that if I were you. It’s been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.
Some Americans leave out the if-clause “if I were you.” Here is what that sounds like:
I wouldn’t eat that. It’s been sitting in the refrigerator for two weeks.
I will say more about using if-clauses in warnings shortly.
Indirect: I don’t think you should
Another phrase we use in advising about what not to do is “I don’t think you should.” Here is an example:
I don’t think you should take off your mask. You might spread or catch the virus.
Again, keep in mind that a phrase like “I don’t think you should” is something we would not use on strangers.
Direct warnings
Now, let’s talk about direct warnings, also known as strong warnings.
Direct: if-clauses
One kind of direct warning tells someone that something bad will happen if he or she does or doesn’t do something. For these, we usually use a conditional clause, also called an if-clause, which expresses a condition.
Listen to some examples:
If you go hiking alone, you will get lost.
I am going to take your electronics away if you don’t finish your schoolwork.
In both examples, the if-clause appears on one side of the sentence. The result appears on the other side.
Direct: don’t
Other strong warnings involve direct commands about not doing something. These often begin with the word “Don’t.” Take a listen:
Don’t check your phone when crossing the street.
I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t answer the door for anyone.
Notice that the subject is missing from the start of both commands. You may remember that, in English, the command form leaves out the subject.
Keep in mind that some of these commands can be considered friendly advice, such as when we say “Don’t forget…” like this:
Don’t forget to bring water. You got thirsty the last time.
Explicit warnings
Another kind of warning is an explicit warning. We give these to prepare someone for an unpleasant experience.
In explicit warnings, Americans usually use the word “warning,” saying things like, “I’m warning you” or “I must warn you.” Depending on the situation, these can be friendly — or they can be threats.
Here is a friendly explicit warning:
OK, we can do it that way. But just a word of warning: It will be much more difficult.
And, finally, an example of an unfriendly threat:
I’m warning you: If you do that again, there will be problems.
Oh, no! I don’t like the sound of that. Hopefully, you never hear that one being used.
Well, that is our program for this week. But just one last warning: If you don’t try the grammar exercise, you will miss a chance to practice your English.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Practice Giving Warnings
Now, you try it! Give a warning for each of these situations.
1-At the zoo, you notice your niece is standing close to a fence. A large animal is walking quickly toward her. What do you say?
2-Your family wants to go to a famous restaurant. You are willing to go but want to tell them that the food is very expensive. What do you say?
3-At the library, you don’t know that a chair is broken as you begin to sit on it. What should someone say to you?
4-A friend tells you he/she is going to take a flight. But you don't think that is a good idea because of coronavirus. What do you say?
5-There is broken glass on a supermarket floor. A stranger does not see the glass and is going to step on it. What do you say?
6-You are driving to your friend’s house as a heavy rainstorm begins. You are on the phone with this friend. What should he/she tell you?
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Words in This Story
distracting - adj. causing a person to stop paying attention to something and to pay attention to something else instead
item - n. An individual thing
refrigerator - n. a device or room that is used to keep food and drinks cold
mask - n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth
clause - n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb
hiking - n. The act of walking a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise
thirsty - adj. having an uncomfortable feeling because you need something to drink
practice - v. To do something again and again in order to get better at it
fence - n. a structure built outdoors that separates two areas or prevents people or animals from entering or leaving
expensive - adj. costing a lot of money (2020/07/03 07:02)
A recent study of coronavirus infections in Italy found that around 40 percent of cases showed no signs of infection, or symptoms. The findings suggest that asymptomatic cases are important in the spread of the virus.
The study was led by scientists at Italy’s Padua University and Imperial College London. The scientists looked at the Italian town of Vò. The town has about 3,200 people. It was put under quarantine for 14 days after having Italy’s first COVID-19 death on February 21.
An early, unedited version of the study was published in the scientific journal Nature on Monday.
The scientists said they tested 85.9 percent and 71.5 percent of the population of Vo’ at two different times.
In the first part of the study, which was done around the time the town’s quarantine started, researchers found 73 people were infected. That is about 2.6 percent of the population. In the second part of the study, which was done after the end of the quarantine, they found 29 people were infected. That is about 1.2 percent of the population.
In both parts of the study, about 40 percent of those who were infected did not have symptoms at the time of testing. They also did not develop symptoms afterwards. In other words, they were asymptomatic.
The study produced evidence that testing along with case isolation and community quarantines can stop local outbreaks quickly. Because all of the coronavirus cases found were quarantined, the researchers said, the disease was not able to spread quickly.
Andrea Crisanti is a professor at Padua. Crisanti was one of the leaders of the project.
“Despite ‘silent’ and widespread transmission, the disease can be controlled,” Crisanti said. “Testing of all citizens, whether or not they have symptoms, provides a way to...prevent outbreaks getting out of hand.”
Crisanti has become well known in Italy for his support of widespread testing. Crisanti said the success of Vo’s testing also guided wider public health policy in the Veneto Region, where it had “a tremendous impact on the course of the epidemic” there compared to other regions.
I’m John Russell.
Kate Kelland reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
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Words in This Story
symptom – n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present
asymptomatic – adj. medical: having or showing no symptoms of disease
quarantine –n. a situation of being kept away from others to prevent the spread of a disease
isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated
transmission – n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person or thing to another
tremendous – adj. very large or great (2020/07/03 06:58)
Scientists say a relative of modern wombats, about the size of a black bear, lived in central Australia around 25 million years ago.
Fossils of the creature’s head and other bones were discovered in 1973, under Lake Pinpa, a dry, salt lake in South Australia state. The fossils were housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and went unstudied for years.
Robin Beck, a professor at the University of Salford in Britain, led the research, which appeared in the publication Scientific Reports.
“It may have looked a bit wombat-like, but with a smaller head,” Beck said. He said the animals also had longer tails and strong legs.
The researchers named the plant-eating mammal Mukupirna nambensis. The name means big bones in the local Aboriginal language. The shape of the creature’s hands and forelimbs suggest it was a skillful and powerful digger, scientists say.
Mukupirna is one of the earliest-known large-bodied Australian marsupials, the report said. Its discovery helps explain the development of a marsupial group called vombatiforms. The group includes wombats as well as koalas.
Marsupials are mammals that give birth to less developed young that are carried and fed in a pouch on the mother’s body. They were the common mammals found across Australia following the end of dinosaurs. Other mammals, like cats, dogs, elephants, apes, horses, developed more commonly on the other continents.
Mukupirna was not a direct ancestor of wombats but a close relative. At about 150 kilograms, it was about five times the size of modern wombats.
Beck said in a news release Mukupirna “probably lived in an open forest environment without grasses, and developed teeth that would have allowed it to feed on sedges, roots, and tubers that it could have dug up with its powerful front legs.”
“It is a very unusual animal,” he added. In fact, researchers have identified Mukupirna as its own animal family.
Mike Archer is a professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He helped write the report on the Mukupirna. He was also among the scientists that discovered the bones almost 50 years ago. He said the find was extremely lucky.
Normally, Lake Pinpa is covered with sands from nearby hills. "But because of rare environmental conditions” before the team arrived, he said, the fossil-rich surface was on full show.
Archer described the unexpected sight as “breathtaking.”
I’m Caty Weaver.
Reuters reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted the story for Learning English.
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Words in This Story
mammal -n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin
forelimb -n. an arm, fin, wing, or leg that is located toward the front of the body
pouch -n. a pocket of skin on the stomachs of some female animals (such as kangaroos and koalas) that is used to carry young
allow -v. to permit; to let
sedge -n. a plant like grass that grows in wet ground or near water
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