THEME THURSDAY: FAMOUS NOVEL OPENINGS ('CHROMOS')
24 / 11 / 2016
THEME THURSDAY: FAMOUS NOVEL OPENINGS ('CHROMOS'): meaning and examples
Hello and good morning, everyone!
Welcome to our last Theme Thursday for November (although we will continue with this them in December). This month we are looking at famous first lines from novels. We discuss why we like these sentences and also look at the grammar in each sentence.
Today we are looking at the book Chromos by Felipe Alfau (1990).
Sentence: The moment one learns English, complications set in.
As English teachers and learners, I think we can all agree with this sentence! We like this line because it uses two interesting concepts: the gender-neutral subject pronoun ONE and the use of the phrasal verb TO SET IN.
The author uses ONE as a subject. It is the same as using the words "a person." This is a formal construction, so this novel begins with a formal sentence.
Example 1: When one exercises, one stays healthy.
TO SET IN is a phrasal verb.
Definition: to begin (and continue) something that is usually unpleasant.
Example 1: After the first week of work, reality set in. I didn't like my job.
Example 2: Once the politician's term set in, I realized I had voted for the wrong person.
What do you think the sentence "[t]he moment one learns English, complications set in" means? We would love to hear your interpretation. Tell us on our Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/ZigguratEscuelaCorporativadeIdiomas/
That's all for today. Thanks for reading!
Welcome to our last Theme Thursday for November (although we will continue with this them in December). This month we are looking at famous first lines from novels. We discuss why we like these sentences and also look at the grammar in each sentence.
Today we are looking at the book Chromos by Felipe Alfau (1990).
Sentence: The moment one learns English, complications set in.
As English teachers and learners, I think we can all agree with this sentence! We like this line because it uses two interesting concepts: the gender-neutral subject pronoun ONE and the use of the phrasal verb TO SET IN.
The author uses ONE as a subject. It is the same as using the words "a person." This is a formal construction, so this novel begins with a formal sentence.
Example 1: When one exercises, one stays healthy.
TO SET IN is a phrasal verb.
Definition: to begin (and continue) something that is usually unpleasant.
Example 1: After the first week of work, reality set in. I didn't like my job.
Example 2: Once the politician's term set in, I realized I had voted for the wrong person.
What do you think the sentence "[t]he moment one learns English, complications set in" means? We would love to hear your interpretation. Tell us on our Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/ZigguratEscuelaCorporativadeIdiomas/
That's all for today. Thanks for reading!
