Ashamed or Embarrassed

 

Quiz: You can only feel one of these when you are alone:   a) embarrassed  b) ashamed

The main difference between these words is that “ashamed” is more about what you think of yourself, and  “embarrassed” is about what other people think of you.

Example #1 — Ashamed: Some people who haven’t had a good education may not be able to read (they are illiterate). They don’t want others to know this because they would be “ashamed” to admit that they are adults who don’t know how to read. Being ashamed is personal, and it’s often associated with feeling inferior, inadequate, or guilty.

Example #2 — Embarrassed: When I was at the university, students would move from class to class on foot (sometimes by bike) and in the wintertime, the sidewalks were often very slippery. It was common to slip and fall on the icy sidewalks, myself included. This was “embarrassing” because other people could see you lose control and it wasn't cool (impressive) in any way.  

When you’re uncertain about whether to use ashamed or embarrassed, think about the source of this feeling: external/other people (embarrassed) or internal (ashamed). 

*(Answer: ashamed)

Look at, watch, and see

When you're at the cinema, are you watching a film or are you looking at it? To be precise, you are watching it.

Why is it watch and not look at if they mean practically the same thing? It depends on how long your attention is on the activity.



Look at and watch are both active words. It’s something you want to do.
Look at is for a short time. We are trying to see what it is and we are paying attention.
(Example- Nancy looked at the clock.)

Watch is for a longer period of time. We observe attentively, typically over a period of time. (Example- Let's watch television.)

See is an inactive word. When your eyes are open, you do it without thinking; something “comes to our eyes”. It doesn’t always mean that we are paying attention. (Example- Richie saw an eagle in the sky.)

I often hear errors from English learners regarding look at, watch, and see. For example, when you talk with something in person or on Skype, you look at them. You're not watching. You're not observing their activities. It's an interaction, so you look at them and they look at you. In Hawaii, many tourists like to go whale watching (an extended activity).

Think about your attention to an activity (active or passive) and how long your attention is on an activity (short or long time) and you'll have no problem with look at, watch, or see.

Shadow and shade

Someone who is timid, suspicious, or easily frightened can be described as “afraid of their own shadow.” It’s a common English idiom I’m using to introduce the subject of shadow and shade.

Shadow and shade. Both need a light source to be formed, but not the same kind.

A shadow is the “picture” or silhouette cast by an object that blocks any light source. What kind of light source? The sun, a lamp, a candle, a spotlight, a flashlight, a streetlight, a nightlight, etc.

Shade, on the other hand, is the "partial darkness" made by a shadow of something, such as a tree or a building, and it only applies to shadows created outside by the sun. The light is diminished in intensity as a result of the interception of the rays, creating a cool, dark area where the sun does not reach, made by the shadow.

Shadows can be fun or frightening, depending on the situation. Have you ever made shadow puppets with your hands? However, if you've ever seen a horror film, you know that nighttime shadows stimulate the imagination to think strange, scary thoughts. In that case I would be afraid of my own shadow.

Raise and grow

When talking about living things like animals, people, plants, they always begin life very small and, with proper care, get bigger over time. Is this process called growing or raising? Both are correct though they differ slightly. How?

Parents raise children. Farmers raise crops. My childhood friend used to raise rabbits.

To raise is to bring a living thing to maturity.

- Frank Sinatra was born and "raised" in Hoboken, New Jersey.
- Monty "raises" thoroughbred horses.
- Mickey "raised" her son all by herself.
- Antonello and Elisa are raising two beautiful sons.

Be flexible with your vocabulary by knowing some synonyms for raise:

Bring up = to raise a child, to take care of and educate (a child)
Rear (more formal) = to care for a child or animal until they are fully grown
Grow up = To become an adult


We can be a little more flexible with grow. It is like "raise" (to develop and reach maturity), but it can also describe the action of something that develops or increases by a natural process. It’s something that happens from within, not something that another person has to do for that living thing to develop.

- Filippo "grew" a beard and I didn’t recognize him.
- Paul "grew" 8 cm in one year.
- Sequoia trees can "grow" up to 115 m high.
- "Growing" marijuana is illegal in most states. (This is similar to raise; the others are not.)

Do you raise anything?

Confusing words: high or tall?

High and tall are adjectives that refer to vertical height, but they are usually not interchangeable even though they are very similar. Here's how to use them correctly:




1. Tall is mainly used for things that are narrower or thinner than they are high: tall people, tall trees, tall buildings, tall glasses, tall ladders.

2. We prefer to use high for things that are very wide: high mountains, high walls, high fences.

3. We also use high for things that are out of our reach, or far above the ground: a high branch, a high shelf, high clouds, a high ceiling.

4. When measuring something we use tall for people, but usually high for objects.

- Flavia is 162 cm tall.
- The heels on her shoes are at least 10 cm high. Wow!

- Redwood trees, native to California and Oregon, are the tallest trees in the world. An average redwood tree can grow up to 91 meters high (measurement).


How tall are you?

Compliments and Complements

Compliments are admiring remarks. Compliments are nice. Compliments are free. We shouldn't be so stingy (ungenerous) with our compliments, don't you agree? I'm referring to the compliment with an "i":

You smell wonderful. Your perfume is intoxicating.
Your toupee looks so natural.
The view from your home is breathtaking.

Simple, right?


There is another complement you should know, complement with an "e", meaning an addition that improves something.

Your new sofa complements the decor of your living room beautifully.
That tie really complements your suit.
Stefano's choice of wine was the perfect complement to our meal.

Compliment and complement. Two easily confused words.