The World at War, Episode 4, Alone, May 1940 - May 1941
Narrator: to the relief of the authorities, Buckingham Palace was bombed as well as East London. Now it could be seen that King, Queen and people were all in it together.
as well as: in addition to something or something else
Showing posts with label The World at War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The World at War. Show all posts
Friday, 13 April 2012
The World at War, we ran out of water
The World at War, Episode 4, Alone, May 1940 - May 1941
Fireman: Eventually, we used so much water we ran out of it and there we stood - letting the fires burn - and we couldn't do anything about it.
run out of something: to use all of something and have no more left
Fireman: Eventually, we used so much water we ran out of it and there we stood - letting the fires burn - and we couldn't do anything about it.
run out of something: to use all of something and have no more left
The World at War, In office
The World at War, Episode 4, Alone, May 1940 - May 1941
Narrator: Among the casualties of the raid on May 10th was the House of Commons. Exactly a year - a year of disappointment - the Commons had sustained Churchill in office, but the important battle had been won. Britain had survived. Now it was Russia's turn.
In office: while he was Prime Minister, in this case. An important job in Government.
Narrator: Among the casualties of the raid on May 10th was the House of Commons. Exactly a year - a year of disappointment - the Commons had sustained Churchill in office, but the important battle had been won. Britain had survived. Now it was Russia's turn.
In office: while he was Prime Minister, in this case. An important job in Government.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Churchill broadcasts to the world: If we can stand up to him
The World at War, Episode 4, Alone, May 1940 - May 1941
Narrator: (...) left of Dunkirk surrounded on June the 4th. Thousands of troops could not be rescued. A fortnight later, France stopped fighting and the British Prime Minister Churchill broadcasts to the world:
Winston Churchill: What General Weygand has called the battle of France is over, the battle of Britain is about to begin. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’
Fortnight: two weeks.
Break somebody: to make someone feel that they have been completely defeated and they cannot continue working or living.
Stand up to somebody: to be on your feet, to refuse to accept unfair treatment from a person or organization.
Sunlit: made brighter from the light of sun.
uplands: the parts of a country that are far from the sea and are higher than other areas.
brace yourself: to prepare to do something
bear yourself: to walk, to stand, in a particular way, especially when this shows your character.
Narrator: (...) left of Dunkirk surrounded on June the 4th. Thousands of troops could not be rescued. A fortnight later, France stopped fighting and the British Prime Minister Churchill broadcasts to the world:
Winston Churchill: What General Weygand has called the battle of France is over, the battle of Britain is about to begin. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’
Fortnight: two weeks.
Break somebody: to make someone feel that they have been completely defeated and they cannot continue working or living.
Stand up to somebody: to be on your feet, to refuse to accept unfair treatment from a person or organization.
Sunlit: made brighter from the light of sun.
uplands: the parts of a country that are far from the sea and are higher than other areas.
brace yourself: to prepare to do something
bear yourself: to walk, to stand, in a particular way, especially when this shows your character.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
The World at War, the battle of France was now over
The World at War, Episode 03. France Falls (June 1940)
Narrator: In the words of Winston Churchill the battle of France was now over, the battle of Britain was about to begin.
Patxi: (...) but I am wondering if reported
speech rules are not applied. (...) I mean the use of now with a past tense instead of using other time adverb like then for example.The rules of reported speech are followed in the verb. He said "The battle of France is now over." The quote changes the verb to 'was' and that's fine. You're confused because you're thinking the time expression should also change, perhaps to 'then' but in this context that would be strange.
Neil. Learning English, British Council.
Thank you very much, Neil, for your help.
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