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cover of episode Describing Imprecise Numbers, Quantities, Amounts, and Measurements in English 🧮🔢📊

Describing Imprecise Numbers, Quantities, Amounts, and Measurements in English 🧮🔢📊

2024/11/9
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Bob: 本视频讲解了英语中表达不精确数量、数量、金额和测量值的方法，例如使用give or take, roughly, just over, just under, close to, approximately, around, somewhere around, more than I can count等短语。这些短语用于表达对数量、温度、时间等不确定数值的近似估计，而非精确值。例如，描述一个谷仓的高度时，可以使用“20米，give or take”表示大约20米；描述温度时，可以使用“just over 10 degrees Celsius”表示略高于10摄氏度；描述人数时，可以使用“close to 200 people”表示大约200人；描述时间时，可以使用“in about an hour”表示大约一小时后。此外，视频还讲解了more than I can count, approximately, around, roughly等表达不精确数量的其他方式，并通过具体的例子说明了这些短语的用法。视频中还提到了在描述数量时，可以根据实际情况选择不同的表达方式，例如，对于人数较多的场合，可以使用close to或more than；对于数量较少的情况，可以使用10 or so或10 or more。总而言之，本视频旨在帮助学习者掌握英语中表达不精确数量的各种方法，并能够在实际生活中灵活运用。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What phrase is used to describe an imprecise measurement of the height of a silo?

The phrase 'give or take' is used to describe an imprecise measurement of the height of a silo, indicating it might be a little taller or shorter than the stated measurement.

How can you describe the temperature when you don't know the exact number?

You can use phrases like 'just over' or 'just under' to describe the temperature when you don't know the exact number, indicating it is slightly above or below a certain value.

What does the word 'about' imply when used in front of a number?

The word 'about' implies an approximate number, indicating a good guess rather than an exact value.

How can you describe the number of people at an event when you don't know the exact count?

You can use phrases like 'close to' or 'more than' to describe the number of people at an event, indicating an approximate number that is slightly less or more than the stated value.

What phrase can be used to describe a large number of items that are difficult to count?

The phrase 'more than I can count' can be used to describe a large number of items that are difficult to count, indicating an imprecise but significant quantity.

What are the most common words used to give an imprecise number?

The most common words used to give an imprecise number are 'approximately' and 'around', indicating an approximate value rather than an exact count.

What does the word 'roughly' mean when describing a number?

The word 'roughly' means giving an approximate number, indicating an imprecise estimate rather than an exact value.

How can you describe an imprecise number of leaves on the ground?

You can use the phrase 'somewhere around' to describe an imprecise number of leaves on the ground, indicating a rough estimate without an exact count.

Chapters
Learn various ways to express imprecise numbers in English, including using phrases like "give or take," "approximately," and "close to." The examples cover scenarios like measuring the height of silos and estimating the number of people at an event.
  • Use "give or take" for imprecise measurements.
  • Employ "approximately" and "around" for estimations.
  • Use "close to" when guessing slightly less than an amount.
  • Use "more than" to express a quantity exceeding a known number.

Shownotes Transcript

In this English lesson I will help you learn how to describe things in an imprecise way. Sometimes you don't know the exact quantity, measurement, or amount of something, and in English we use a few different words and phrases in those situations.In this English lesson you'll learn words and phrases like: give or take, roughly, just over, just under, close to, approximately, around, somewhere around, and more than I can count.Note: This is the audio portion of a Youtube English lesson which you can watch right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hJVrczAvkA) or by searching Youtube for, "Bob the Canadian Imprecise Numbers"

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