The Daily minute

Wednesday October 20 , 2021
Your daily dose of English in 10 minutes.

A (usually) daily bulletin of English language usage, English grammar and communication skills tips, lifestyle news and other things of interest.

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Lifestyle

Щенячьи льготы: положен ли работникам трехнедельный оплачиваемый отпуск при появлении нового питомца?

Puppy perks: should workers get three weeks of paid leave to bond with a new pet?

A recent poll on pawternity leave suggests most people are against employers offering this as a benefit. But with worrying labour shortages, it could help retain talented staff.

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Culture

Поселок художников «Сокол» зацвел осенними красками

Sokol Artists' Village in the Colors of Autumn

In 1923, after Vladimir Lenin approved legislation allowing cooperative ownership of housing, a group of Muscovites joined together to build a small village at the outskirts of Moscow.

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Word of the Day

overseas (adj., adv.)

Today's word of the day is: overseas (adj., adv.)

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Transcription: [ˌəʊ.vəˈsiːz]

Russian Translation: иностранный, заморский, за границей, за рубежом

Definitions: in, from, or connected with another country or countries, especially across the sea

Example: My brother worked overseas last year. — Мой брат работал за границей в прошлом году.

Synonyms: abroad, foreign

Grammar Tip

Whoever vs. Whomever

To determine whether to use whoever or whomever, the he/him rule in the Who/Whom section applies:

  • he = whoever
  • him = whomever

The presence of whoever or whomever indicates a dependent clause. Use whoever or whomever to agree with the verb in that dependent clause, regardless of the rest of the sentence.

  • Example: Give it to whoever asks for it first. - Отдай это тому, кто первый попросит.

He asks for it first. Therefore, whoever is correct.

  • Example: We will hire whomever you recommend. - Мы наймем того, кого Вы порекомендуете.

You recommend him. Therefore, whomever is correct.

Communication Skills Tip

Informal Language for Social Media

When we write for social media, we often:

miss words out, especially grammar words such as a/the/I/my/is/am/it

  • e.g. Sitting on bed (I'm sitting on my bed)

use abbreviations or short forms

  • e.g. people = ppl, especially = esp, should = shld

use letters or numbers for words which sound the same

  • e.g. you = u, are = r, see = c, for = 4