Portuguese has some odd contractions involving prepositions and articles. Articles in Portuguese are funny to begin with. At least to my eyes and ears at present. “The” is o (masculine) or a (feminine). Those…
I have two books called Essential Portuguese Grammar. One of them, published in 1966 and written by Alexander da R. Prista, says something I really like in the introduction: “No self-study or academic course or series of courses…
Today I crossed paths with a triathlon running through my neighborhood. I love when things like that pop up unexpectedly. Aquaphor New York City Triathlon, West 72nd Street People Cheering on the Runner-Swimmer-Bikers I am continuing to do battle…
I have been looking forward to Portuguese for a long time. I love Romance languages. This is the fourth I have studied, the others being Spanish, French, and Italian. I am still drinking only one shot of espresso a day,…
So, I am a few days into Portuguese, and I am still struggling to get my mouth around the pronunciation. It is like Spanish, and like Italian. The Books I Ordered for Portuguese It is also unlike Spanish, and unlike…
I have just spent the past three months reviewing four languages simultaneously. For sure knowing things in one would often help with the others. As I have documented rather extensively, I was often confused. But I could also sometimes guess…
I am continuing to read news from around the world, as accompaniment for my stingy little single shot of espresso in the morning. But I am still studying grammar, too, and I am perplexed by some things I have come…
Two days ago I bought an iPad. Since then I have used it to read newspapers in four languages. I’m talking about the ones I am currently reviewing: Spanish, French, German, and Italian. It has been fabulous, and fun. …
Some months ago I said on this blog that I was going to quit coffee altogether. I did not quit coffee altogether. In fact, I did rather the opposite. The employees at the coffee shop I frequent began looking…
As I have mentioned, I teach grammar, business writing, and e-mail etiquette for corporate clients through Syntaxis, the company I have with my husband. My very favorite of all is the grammar. I am pretty sure I could teach grammar…
© 2009–2022 Ellen Jovin. All rights reserved.