February 21 - 27, 2005

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WHAT DOES 'MORE' MEAN?

Dear Dr English,

I read news reports at www.nationmultimedia.com and saw "more" used frequently. I don't understand its meaning. Could you explain it for me? Here are some examples.

About 50 more corpses were found in fishing nets and 200 more bodies in the debris of hotels. All were taken to Phang Nga temples for autopsies."

About 300 to 400 more bodies are expected to be retrieved from Phi Phi Island and all bodies should be retrieved within two or three more days, the authorities said yesterday.

Authorities and private rescue workers agreed to divide the island into six zones as they comb for more bodies. They said they would have to search for more bodies in a waste-water treatment pond and from the hills.

The rescue workers also called for more body bags, saying they didn't have enough to cope with the increasing number of dead."

Patsaruch Yangyiam

"More" is used in many contexts, but generally means greater in number, amount or extent of things than before, and is used to form the comparative for many adjectives; it is more difficult to identify decayed bodies. The point is that there are already a number of these things and now we add to this number.
More can be used as adverb or adjective as in: The more you work, the more money you will make.

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INTRODUCING ONESELF IN A PRESENTATION


Dear Dr English,

I received an overseas scholarship in which I will have to give a country report. What should I say to introduce myself at the beginning and to end my report? I have no problem with the content of the report because I am quite familiar with the language and terms used. This is my first presentation in front of foreign colleagues. Please advise.

Pa

First of all you greet the audience and then welcome them from the highest ranking in hierarchical order. After that you introduce yourself and the topic you are going to present.

"Good Morning, Dr Jones Smith, the President of the Science Society, members of the faculty, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am Nucharee Preeda from the Science Society of Thailand. The topic I will be talking about [today/in the next two hours/etc) is..."

After you have finished your presentation, you can ask the audience if they have any questions. If there are no questions, or no more questions, come to a close.

"I hope you have found my presentation/talk both interesting and informative. Thank you very much for your attention."

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