A bus trip to Mt. Hotaka & Kamikochi (Aug. 26 to 27)

We have been stressing out the hot temperature these days.  Sometimes it gets as much as human temperature, 37 or 38 degrees.

So, my husband and I decided to participate in a two-day tour of visiting Mt. Hotaka and Kamikochi area on Auguest 26 - 27.

We planned to take a local bus to Himeji station at 6:41 a.m., so we wake up one hour earlier.  I made two cups of coffeee, and it made us awake.  I took care of my petbirds for food and water and do other things and we left our place.

We took the local bus as planned, and all the tour participants from Himeji station got together at Himeji station, and we met a male driver and a female tour attendant.

The bus went to Kakogawa station and because there were more passengers roded on our bus there.  Then, the attendant asked the passengers if somebody needed for a toilet break.   My husband was concerned about it, but he didn't get off.

Now a total of 46 passengers headed to the next step to the on the bus.

August 22

I'm studying an English grammar book.  One unit of the book takes 30 minutes to study.  I am trying to study one or two units every day.  Here are the mistakes I made.  Please discuss. 

Unit 1 - Present Continuous (I am doing)

Complete the sentences using the verbs (get or begin)  Each verb can be used once only.

Question 1.4.3 The situation is already bad and it (get or begin) worse.

My anwer: The situation is already bad and it is beginning worse.   (correct answer: is getting)

RJ tutor's opinion: getting (you have to look at the development in the process)
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Question 1.4.5. The weather (get or begin) to improve.  The rain has stopped, and  the wind isn't as strong.

My anwer: The weather is getting to improve.  (correct answer: is beginning)

RJ tutor's opinion: beginning (you have to at the change in the process)


Unit 2 - Simple Present  (I do) 

Put the verb into the correct form.

Question 2.2.8 David isn't very good shape.  He (not exercise).

My anwer: David isn't very good shape.  He does not do any exercise.

Correct answer: He doesn't exercise.

My mistake: 2.5.4 I apologize what I did.  It won't happen again.

Correct answer:  I apologize for what I did. 

RJ tutor's advice: 
apologize to someone (or indirect object)  / apologize for something that happened


He apologized to his wife and children for losing his temper.
I want to apologize (to you) for what I said. I didn't mean it, and I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings.
We apologize for the mistake and promise that it won't happen again.
She doesn't apologize for her lifestyle. [=she does not believe that her lifestyle is wrong]

Unit 5 - Simple Past (I did)

My mistake:  5.1.5  She started to work at 8:45. 
Correct Answer:  She started work at 8:45.  (the word "work" is noun here.)

My mistake: 5.1.7  She finished her work (or the work) at 5:00. 
Correct Answer: She finished work at 5:00.

My opinion: the word can be used as uncountable noun.

Unit 6 - Past Continuous (I was doing)

My mistake
6.3.1 I saw Sue in town yesterday.  (the word "town" can be used as uncountable noun.)
But she didn't look at me.  She looked the other way. 

Correct answer: She was looking the other way.

RJ tutor's opinion
town [nouncount]:  the business and shopping center of a town
We're heading to town later on.

uptown: the upper part of a city or town : the part of a city or town that is away from the central part — usually singular
We can shop a lot in the downtown area. 

My mistake
6.3.2.  I met Tom and Jane at the airport a few years ago.  They went to Boston and I went to Montreal.  We talked while we were waiting for our flights.

Correct answer:  They were going to Boston and I was going to Montreal.

Unit 7 Present Perfect (I have done)

7.1.5 What's the most beautiful place have you ever visited?

Correct answer:  What's the most beautiful place you have ever visited?

7.3.2 I read a newspaper yesterday, but I haven't read it today.

Correct answer:  I haven't read one today.

7.4.3.  Have you ridden a horse before?
           Have you been on a horse before?

My question:  Please check the follows:

I rode on a bus yesterday. 
I rode on a taxi yesterday.
I rode on a airplane yesterday.

Are the preposition "on" in the sentences correctly used?

My mistake: 7.4.4.  Maria is in Los Angeles.  Have you been to Los Angeles before, Maria? 

Correct answer: Have you been in Los Angeles before, Maria. 

Clothes-pin Cat

(I wrote this entry for improving my English skills.  I asked a RareJob tutor to edit them to natural English.  For comparison, RJ's sentences are shown black and my original ones are shown blue.)

When I saw the pictures below from a magazine, I was very interested in making them.
I wanted to make them, but the magazine didn't include instruction on how to make them

(My original sentences)
When I saw the pictures below from a magazine, I was very interested in making them.
I wanted to make them, but the magazine didn't show their patterns.

Left: cat / right: dog

 

Left: rabbit / right: horse

I think the bigger clothes-pin in my house is exactly the same size as the ONE ON THE magazine.

(My original sentence)
I think the bigger clothes-pin in my house is exactly the same size as the magazine. 

 

I am not good at making patterns, but I tried drawing the pattern as best as I could.

 

(My original sentence)

I am not good at making patterns, but I drew the pattern.

I used one piece of my husband's very old socks to make it.  The fabric of socks stretches well.

(My original sentence)

I cut the patterns, and sewed them by hand. 

The most difficult part is when I sewed more than half,
and I had to put the pin inside and stuff it with cotton.

(My original sentence)
The most difficult part is when I sewed more than half,
I put the pin inside and stuffed cotton.

I finished them two hours later.

 

Although, I probably have to make its face (eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers.)

 

(My original sentence)

Still, I probably have to make its face (eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers.)

   

 

 

The magazine showed that it can be used to connect curtains.

 

(My original sentence)

The magazine showed that it can be used as it connects curtains right and left side.

 

I think my first cat is a bit fatty, so I want to trim a little bit from each side of my second pattern.

(My original sentence)
I think my first cat is a bit fatty.  So, I want to cut the pattern each side before making my second. 

 

(Additional part)

 

After writing this entry, I made another one on Monday afternoon: a pink rabbit.  

This one is slimmer than the cat.

 

(My original sentences)

After writing this entry, I made another one, a pink rabbit Monday afternoon.  

This one is slimmer than the cat.