ENGLISH NEWS

Part 2
Unit 6
Nature And Ecology
Lexical Database

Monkey Phrases

monkey business = fishy things (afaceri necurate)

not to give a monkeys = a nu-i psa ctui de puin
to make a monkey of smb. = to make a fool of smb.
to have a monky on ones back = to be on drugs

Catching Fish / Animals

to fish = to catch fish professionally or for fun.

to angle = to catch fish for fun only.
to poach = to catch fish or hunt animals illegally. (Rom. = a bracona)

Woodwork:

to fell (-ed, -ed) trees = a dobor arbori

trunk = the lower part of a tree (Rom. trunchi)
stump = the part of a tree trunk that has been left attached to the roots after the tree has been
felled. (Rom. ciot, cioat)
log = detached trunk of a tree (Rom. butean)

Causes Of Environment Destruction And Effects

CFS = Freon (gaz inert folosit odinioar la sistemele de rcire i n spray-uri)

deforestation = massive destruction of woods
soil erosion = eroziunea solului
ozone layer depletion = distrugerea stratului de ozon
fossil fuel = combustibili fosili (petrol, gas, coal)
greenhouse effect = efectul de ser

Garbage Vocabulary

scrap heap = hald de fier vechi

household waste = deeuri menajere
rubbish bin = gleat de gunoi
hazardous = riscant
to discard, to dispose of = a arunca, a se descotorosi de,
leak = scurgere

Solutions

a green product = vegetables or fruit that are not chemically treated

recyclable waste = waste that can be reused
ozone-friendly = not damaging the ozone layer
disposable by-products = secondary products that can be safely disposed off
refuse sorting out = collecting similar types of waste separately
bottle bank = container for sorting out waste glass
returnable packaging = reusable packaging (glass bottles, jars, stc.)
a green law = law meant to protect the environment
nature reserve = protected area, law-protected ecosystem

Green Idiomatic Phrases

greens = fruit and vegetables

a greenback = a dollar bill
a greenhorn = a fresher, a beginner
to be green = to be a nave or a novice
to have green thumbs/fingers = to be a good gardener
the greening of a business = to acquire ecological awareness

Gramar

The Possessive Case (The Saxon Genitive)

Romanian:
English:

Possessed object + Possessor

Possessor + Possessed object

General rule: Noun in the singular + s

E.g. my sons shirt
Exception: for goodness sake; for conveniences sake
Noun in the plural (ending in -s) +
E.g. my sons shirts
Special cases:

Compounds get the s at the very end.

E.g. mother-in-laws smile; Lord Chancellors wish
Possessors of the same object, connected by and get the s after the

latter.
E.g. Tom and Jerrys never ending fights
The uses of the Possessive Case
A. Names of persons and animals
E.g. fathers tie; the cats paw
B. Units of measurement
E.g. an hours talk; two miles walk
But also: a two-hour talk; a five-mile walk;
C. Common nouns + sake
E.g. for mercys sake; for peaces sake
D. Abstract nouns
E.g. Loves Labours Lost; truths victory
E. Natural elements
E.g. the oceans roar; the winds whip
F. Short names of countries E.g. Britains colours, Romanias border
G. Names of cities, regions, rivers
E.g. the Danubes course
H. Inanimates seeming to have a life of their own E.g. my cars lights

I. Set phrases
E.g. at ones fingers ends; her hearts desire; at ones wits end; a
needles eye; a pins head
The Prepositional Genitive
THE FORM
the + Possessed object + of + the + Possessor
USAGE
Normally with neuter nouns (inanimates)
Geographical nouns + proper names
E.g. the city of Cairo, the village of Humulesti
Replacement of the Saxon Genitive by the Prepositional one
a) In titles, written English, or formal speech
E.g. the works of Keats; the rights of man;
b) With Adjectives used as Nouns
E.g. the conditions of the poor; the energy of the young
c) When the name of the possessor has a long determinant
E.g. the name of the girl in the house opposite
d) When the name of the possessed object is preceded by a Demonstrative or an Indefinite
Article
E.g. Those clothes of the girls; a friend of my uncle David
e) In order to form a double Genitive
E.g. a cousin of my friends; a friend of my wifes
Never a Prepositional Genitive with:
a) Nouns like: Father, Mother, Uncle, Aunt, Grannie, etc
Exc.: When the noun is preceded by a Possessive Adjective
E.g. Fathers office but the office of my Father
b) Proper names of towns, squares, institutions, shops
E.g. St. Jamess Square; Lincolns Inn Fields
c) When the Noun is followed by a Gerund
E.g. Marys coming was a real surprise for us.
The Dative Case
A. Without a preposition
when immediately following the verb
E.g. Give Jane my regards.
B. Preceded by to
1.
When following the Direct Object
E.g. Give my regards to Jane.
2.
when it starts the sentence

E.g. To Jane you should give my regards, not to James !

3.
When there is no Direct Object
E.g. I spoke to Jane.
4.
After Adjectives, Nouns and Pronouns
E.g. He is cruel to animals. It is a duty to my children.
What is she to your brother ?
Unit 7
The Media
Lexical Database

The Written Press

daily = cotidian
weekly = sptmnal
monthly = revist cu apariie lunar
quarterly = revist cu apariie trimestrial
broadsheet = ziar serios
tabloid = tabloid, publicaie de scandal

Press Slang (argoul presei)

gutter press = scandal press (gutter = canal)

motoring press = automagazines
classified ads = announcements
agony column =romantic ads
gossip column = the mundane news
obituaries = column with the deceased persons

The Layout (macheta)

front page = prima pagin

headlines = titlurile principale
leader = editorial
sections = rubrici

People Involved

editor = redactor
subscriber = abonat (to subscribe = a te abona)

Radio Acronyms

FM = Frequency modulation
AM = Amplitude modulation
SW = Short Waves
MW = Medium Waves
LW = Long Waves

Radio Terminology

announcer = prezentator la radio

to broadcast, broadcast, broadcast = a emite
to be on air = a fi n direct la radio
to be off air = a se fi ncheiat transmisia
to pick up a station = a prinde un post de radio

Television Terminology

dish = anten parabolic

aerial = anten obinuit
viewer = telespectator
toll channel / pay-per-view = canal codificat, pltit separat
to zap = a trece rapid de la un canal la altul

TV Shows

news bulletin = tiri

soap opera = telenovel
commercial = reclam
quiz show = emisiune-concurs de cultur general
talk show = emisiune-dezbatere
weather forecast = bulletin meteo

Computer Slang

computerese = IT jargon
a sillionnaire = a billionaire in IT business
netiquette = etiquette to be used on the Net
eye candy = attractive sites/files of no use
cyberholic = net addicted person
click-and-mortar = company doing business on the Net
GRAMMAR
The Qualifying Adjectives
Negative prefixes
un pleasant
dishonest
illegitimate

irrational
displeased
illiterate

non-edible
unwise
disagreeable

The degrees of Comparison

Comparative

Positive
short
old
far
beautiful
much/many
good/well
bad/ill
little

Superlative

Of
Of
Of superiority
equality inferiority
shorter
older / elder
farther /
not
further
as
as
+
more beautiful
+
Adj.
Adj.
more
+
+
as
better
as
worse
less
lesser !

relative

absolute

the shortest
the oldest/eldest
the farthest
the most beautiful
the most
the best
the worst
the least

Special Cases
1. THE SUPERLATIVE
=
COMPARATIVE
when two elements are being compared
E.g. I have two apples; take the bigger one.
I have three apples; take the biggest one.
2. THE COMPARISON OF COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
1. The Adjective that keeps its meaning gets the Comparative
E.g. You may be well-paid, but surely he is better-paid.
2. When the elements of the compound lose their primary
Analytical Comparative is used
E.g Really, this idea is more far-fetched than I could have imagined !
3. THE COMPARISON OF THE COMPARISON
E.g. This example is much better / by far worse / way too difficult.

very/
highly/
deeply
+ Adj.

meaning, the

The Order of Adjectives

Det. Quality

Size

Shape

Age

Color

Origin

Material

Comp.
elem.

Noun

a
few

long

square

old

red and
black

Chinese

silk

evening-

dress

the beautiful

big

round

young

white

Venetian wooden cooking-

apples

a lot
slender
of

little

oval

18th
century

creamcolored

Roman

stone

hallway-

carpet

thin

irregular

recent

grayish

English

velvet

G.P.

nurse

best

his luxurious

Idioms

A. Rom. = cu cat mai... cu atat mai...

THE + COMPARATIVE 1 + THE + COMPARATIVE 2
E.g. The sooner he comes the better it is for him
(but also) The sooner, the better.
B. Rom. = din ce in ce mai...
COMPARATIVE + AND + COMPARATIVE (of short Adjective) or
MORE + AND + MORE + long Adjective
Eg. He is getting wiser and wiser and she is turning more and more beautiful.
Unit 8
Communications
Lexical Database

Letter writing

envelope = plic
sender = expeditor
addressee / recipient = destinatar
stamp = timbru
post mark = tampila potei
mailbox = cutie potal (US)
pillarbox = cutie potal (GB)
letter box = cutia de scrisori (de acas)
mailman= pota (US)
postman = pota (GB)

Making phone calls

to pick up the receiver = a ridica receptorul

ring tone = ton de apel
to dial a number = a forma un numr
to hang up = a pune receptorul n furc
mouthpiece = microfonul receptorului
earpiece = casca receptorului
engaged number = numr ocupat (GB)
busy number = numr ocupat (US)
to be through = a avea legtura
to look up = a cuta o informaie scris (ex. un numr n cartea de telefon)
directory = phone book = carte de telefon

Computer terminology

work station / terminal = staie (ntr-o reea de calculatoare)

storage (of data) = a stoca (informaii)

retrieval (of data) = extragere de informaii

debugging = repararea unui program cu erori
database = baz de date
to browse = a rsfoi / a cuta fiiere, foldere sau site-uri
webmaster = administrator de site sau de reea
net surfer = persoan care navigheaz pe Net
internet provider = firm care ofer servicii de Internet
search engine = motor de cutare (aplicaie care faciliteaz gsirea adreselor dorite de pe Net)
homepage = prima pagin a oricrui site
cyberspace = totalitatea informaiilor accesabile pe Net

Communication jargon

journalese = jargonul presei scrise

sitcom = serial umoristic TV (< situation comedy)
on the record = din surse oficiale
off the record = din surse neoficiale
newsworthy = caracteristica unei tiri de a fi de larg interes
its yesterdays news = informaie nvechit

Gramar
o The Indefinite Adjectives

1.

FEW
A FEW
+ Countable Nouns
LITTLE
A LITTLE
+ Uncountable Nouns
Negative
Positive
meaning
meaning
E.g. I have few friends there ( = not many).
I have a few friends there ( = some).
I have little money on me ( = I cannot buy almost anything).
I have a little money on me ( = I could do some shopping).
2. THE FORMER / THE LATTER = the first / second out of two
E.g. John and Mary are here; the former ( = John) is my brother, the latter ( = Mary) is his
wife.
3. THE LAST / THE LATEST = the final / the most recent
E.g. This is the latest news about Versaces last fashion show.
EACH
refers to the elements taken separately.
was offered a flower.
EVERYrefers to the elements taken as a whole.
good time I hope. ( = all the guests)
both E.g. There were trees on either side of

E.g. Each guest

E.g. Every guest had a

the street.

EITHER =
whichever (of the two)
E.g. I have two new books; take either
them.
Unit 9
Transport
Lexical Database

Means of transport (Sg. = Pl. !!!)

ground transport = transport de suprafa

underground transport = metro
air transport = transport aerian
water transport = transport pe ap
rail transport = transport pe ine

The infrastructure

a trunk road = osea principal

a by-road = osea secundar
a ring road = osea de centur
a crossroads = o intersecie
a T-junction = o jonciune de drumuri (n form de T)

Elements of the infrastructure

road lanes = benzi de circulaie

road shoulder = acostament
road / traffic signs = semen de circulaie
road guard / barier = balustrad la marginea drumului

Vehicles

vintage car = main de epoc

shuttle = 1. suveic; 2. navet
tanker = cistern, tank petrolier
lorry = camion (GB)

Parts of a car

windshield / windscreen = parbriz

bonnet / hood = capota motorului
headlights = faruri
number plate = numr
body / coachwork = caroserie
rear view mirror = oglind retrovizoare
boot(GB) / trunk (US) = portbagaj

of

blinkers = semnalizatoare de direcie

exhaust pipe = eav de eapament

The inside of a car

steering wheel = volan

speedometer = vitezometru
dashboard = bord
gearshift lever / shifter = schimbtor de viteze
accelerator = pedala de acceleraie
(hand) brake = frn (de mn)
clutch = ambreiaj

People involved

engineer = mecanic de locomotiv (< engine = motor)

pilot / captain = pilot
captain / skipper = cpitan de vas
flight attendants / cabin crew (m. stewart; f. stewardess) = nsoitori de bord (steward,
stewardes)

Idiomatic phrases

to paddle ones canoe = a reui de unul singur

to rock the boat = a face valuri (fig.)
to be all at sea = a fi n necaz, a avea probleme
an armchair traveler = amator de documentare de cltorie
to have one for the road = a bea un ultimo pahar nainte de a pleca
a road hog = un ofer agresiv i necivilizat

Gramar
o Pronouns

No. Person Gender

S
I
N
G
U
L
A
R
P
L
U
R
A
L

The beginners first stop

PERSONAL

POSSESSIVE

NominativeDat. Ac. Adj.

my

Pron.
mine

REFLEXIVE /
EMPHATIC

m/f

me

II

m/f

you

you

III

he

him

his

his

himself

III

she

her

her

hers

herself

III

it

it

its

its

itself

m/f

we

us

our

ours

ourselves

II

m/f

you

you

your yours

yourselves

III

m/f

they

them

their theirs

themselves

your yours

myself
yourself

The Interrogative Pronouns

WHO - the Nominative form, used for persons only.

WHOSE - the Genitive form, used for both persons and objects.
WHOM - the Accusative form, used for persons only.
TO WHOM - the Dative form, used for persons only.
WHICH - the Accusative form used to express choice.
WHAT - not used for persons, except when it is an Adjective.

The Compound Relative Pronouns

WHOEVER - Nominative form, used for persons only.

WHOSEVER - Genitive form, used for persons only.
WHOMEVER - Objective form, used for persons only.
WHICHEVER- both for persons and inanimates, choice implied
WHATEVER - used for inanimates only.
WHEREVER = Rom. oriunde
WHENEVER = Rom. oricand

when the action that follows is uncertain, the Subjunctive is used

E.g. Whoever may come is welcomed here.
Wherever you might go, you wont find a better place.
but:
Bring him here, whenever he comes. ( = as soon as)

Unit 10
Business And Trade
Lexical Database

Capitalist economy terms

free market = pia liber

free enterprise = iniiativ liber
free trade = comer liber
privatization = privatizare
liberalism = economie liber
private sector = sectorul privat
domestic / home market = piaa intern

nationalization = naionalizare
interventionism = intervenionism
state-run economy = economie de stat
world / global market = piaa mondial

Economic evolutions

growth = cretere
stagnation = stagnare
recession = recesiune
recovery = revenire
economical boom = economical boost = dezvoltare economic spectaculoas
to be at a standstill = a fi n criz
to be in the doldrums = a fi n pragul colapsului

The money

cash = bani ghea

bill (US) = bancnot, not de plat
bill (GB) = not de plat
plastic money = card
change = mruni, rest
hard currency = valut forte

American coins

a nickel = 1 cent
a copper = 5 cents
a dime = 10 cents
a quarter = 25 cents
a half dollar = 50 cents
a silver dollar = 1 $ coin

The Stock Exchange (Bursa)

quotations = cotaii (preuri)

shareholder = acionar (share = aciune)
falling market = curs descendent al pieei de capital
golden boy = broker de mare succes

closing price = preul la nchiderea edinei bursiere

dabbler in stock = broker nepriceput (ageamiu)

Banking

to open an account = a-i deschide un cont

savings = economii
a loan = un mprumut bancar
mortgage = ipotec
overdraft = depire a plafonului de mprumut al cardului
a blank cheque = cec n alb
a cheque to bearer = cec la purttor
a rubber cheque = (collocvial) cec fr acoperire
a travelers cheque = cec de cltorie
a cheque book = un carnet de cecuri

Companies

a limited company (LTD) = companie cu rspundere limitat (SRL)

a trust = un trust / cartel
a branch = o filial
a department = un department, o secie, un serviciu
a subsidiary = o sucursal
the main office / head office = sediul social

The Personnel

accountant = contabil
board of directors = consiliul de administraie
sales manager = director de vnzri
downsizing = restrngere de activitate

Idiomatic phrases

a money spinner = un tip care tie s scoat bani din piatr seac
to pay smb. hush money = a cumpra tcerea cuiva
a golden handshake = o primire n firm n condiii materiale f. avantajoase
a golden parachute = o sum substanial oferit ca bonus la pensionare
to spend a penny = a merge la un WC public
to kill the golden goose = a pierde o susrs important de venituri

Gramar
o Numerals

The beginners first stop

THE CARDINAL AND ORDINAL NUMERALS

1 one
2 two
3 three
4 four
5 five
6 six
7 seven
8 eight
9 nine
10 ten
11 eleven
12 twelve

the first
the second
the third
13 thirteen the thirteenth
the fourth 14 fourteen the fourteenth
the fifth
15 fifteen
the fifteenth
the sixth
16 sixteen
the sixteenth
the seventh 17 seventeen the seventeenth
the eighth 18 eighteen the eighteenth
the ninth
19 nineteen the nineteenth
the tenth
the eleventh
the twelfth

100 one hundred

21 twenty-one
22 twenty-two
23 twenty-three
24 twenty-four
25 twenty-five

1,000 one thousand

the twenty-first
the twenty-second
the twenty-third
the twenty-fourth
the twenty-fifth

234 two hundred and thirty-four

20 twenty
30 thirty
40 forty
50 fifty
60 sixty
70 seventy
80 eighty
90 ninety

the twentieth
the thirtieth
the fortieth
the fiftieth
the sixtieth
the seventieth
the eightieth
the ninetieth

1,000,000 one million

26 twenty-six
27 twenty-seven
28 twenty-eight
29 twenty-nine

the twenty-sixth
the twenty-seventh
the twenty-eighth
the twenty-ninth

the four hundred and thirty-fourth

THE FRACTIONAL NUMERAL

1 ONE HALF
2

1
3

ONE THIRD

1 ONE QUARTER
4

GENERAL RULE:

A = CARDINAL NUMERAL
B = ORDINAL NUMERAL( + concord )
E.g. 3 = three fifths
4 = four ninths
5
9
THE DECIMAL NUMERAL
0.75 - is read: zero point seventy-five
(= Rom. 0,75)
3.14 - is read: three point fourteen
(= Rom. 3,14)
Whereas: 3,265,884 - is read: three million two hundred and sixty-five thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four
More simply: The point and the comma have reversed functions in English as compared to
Romanian