The Hotel California
Today at Momoishi middle school, one of the English teachers asked me to explain to her the difference between "the" and "the" (pronounced like "thee"). I did my best, despite the unexpected nature of the question and my unfamiliarity with what may or may not be an actual rule of English grammar. I soon found out the source of this strange question when the teacher admitted to me that "Since I was a child, I always wondered why they sang 'the' in the Eagles' song 'Hotel California'. Now I know."
As I was teaching a class at that school today, I noticed a particularly troublesome student was pointing at my neither regions. At first I thought he was after my keys but it wasn't until after I understood what he was saying that I realized what he was on about: "foot-long". Oh my.
10 Comments:
Now that they have discovered the size of your trouser snake, you'll never be left alone. Put me down for one of the first run of Mehan idol pillows.
It's just something singers do because it's more poetic sounding, I think. Maybe somewhat archaic. You hear it in a lot of folk music.
there's actually a grammatical rule involving the first letter of the word that 'the' precedes (whether it is a vowel or a consonant, i think) but I sure as hell don't know how to explain that to someone who understands very little english
Mehan, aren't you thinking of the rule that determines whether or not you put "a" or "an" in front of words starting with consonants / vowels?
I think there might be a similar rule with the pronunciation of 'the'? I have a English grammar book at home that was left behind by some previous JET, maybe I'll look in there later.
Also, you should come up to Shimokita with us this weekend, dude.
I have to be at work all day Saturday for my school's 80th anniversary. Sunday I am going to Hach to pay for my car / exchange paperwork. No fun for me this weekend...
you suck
So sunday, when you get your car, you drive it. No problems. I look forward to seeing you on sunday, Leo. And yes, I know this isn't Leo's blog.
yes leo, see you sunday
so shimokita was awesome beyond belief, you losers really missed out this time
pix forthcoming
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