Today, I have a challenge for you! Let’s have some fun learning English!
I see English in every country around the world. Sometimes there is English on a shop sign, on a menu, on a T-shirt or in a song or an advertisement.
The problem is, these signs are not always correct! I have seen some companies use English because they think it looks cool, but the English is wrong!
Fire Water - Fix this English!
For example, above is a sign I found. The sign is on a door to the fire hose.
The sign says: “Dangrous Don’t use the Fire Water!!!”
Activity: Can you fix the English?
Write in the comments what you think would be the correct English for this sentence.
CHALLENGE:
Let’s share what we find and have some fun!
1. When you are out, look around your city or town.
2. If you see an English sign, take a photo of it and email it to me. Maybe your sign will have good English, but maybe not! That is part of the fun!
You don’t need a special camera. I took my photo using my mobile phone!
3. All pictures sent to me will be put up on this site (one each week). Then we can challenge each other to FIX THIS ENGLISH!
EMAIL ALL PICTURES TO: admin[at]askjohnenglish.com
TIP: [at] = @
Remember, I hope to put a new picture up each week. Then you can try to ‘Fix this English’!
Send me some English from where you live soon!
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hi John…
i think it should be
don’t use the fire hose…
there is no fire water!!!!
Hi Mercy.
That could be correct! From the sign, I am not sure if water is the problem or not.
The sign starts with the word ‘Dangerous’ so I think it is probably not a water problem.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
Hi john,
It’s a great idea to open new section like this. I realy love it. To answer your question, i would go with “Don’t use the Fire Hydrant”.
Hope my sentence doensn’t go off its original meaning.
Good effort Sam.
One problem – this is not a fire hydrant. It is a fire hose.
A fire hydrant is something the fire turcks can connect to. A hose is something for people to hold.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
Hello Jhon,
I think the correct answar is ( Use the fire Hose Reel when it is dangrous.
Hi Bader
Great effort. I don’t think this is correct. Usually a sign that starts with the word ‘Dangerous’ is telling you to stay away and not use it.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
hello Jhon,
I think the correct answer is “Use fire water when it is dangerous”
Hi Intentarr
Great effort. I don’t think this is correct. Usually a sign that starts with the word ‘Dangerous’ is telling you to stay away and not use it. Also ‘fire water’ is an old word that means ‘alcohol’!
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
Hi John,
I believe the right sentence is “Don’t use fire’s water”
Hi Anthony. Great try. One problem is that you say ‘Fire’s water’ (possessive). Fire doesn’t have any water.
You could say: Don’t use the fire hose.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
Hi John!
the first point is related to orthography of “dangerous”.
By the way, I think it must be replaced with “Caution” or ” Danger”. So they could write: Caution! Don’t use the fire hose reel.
But does it mean that people mustn’t use it even to extinguish the fire?!!
Good work Mohammad! Excellent work!
Hi John, have a nice weekend. I think that it should be “Dangerous don’t use fire hose?
Good work Kemo!
Don’t forget ‘the’:
Do not use the fire hose.
Dear teachers and fellow “study-mates”,
I really do not know how to correct it,
because my English is very bad.
But I think ” Fire Water ” is the part should be changed.
And I am not sure that ” Do not use water from here ( fire hose ) “, is suiable or not……
hope to hear the beautiful way correcting it.
Yes a001314 the phrase ‘Fire Water’ is incorrect.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
As most of the people state, the word “Dangrous” is misspelled, it should be Dangerous but also the sentence don’t make sense; I think it should be: Caution use it Just in case of Fire. Just a thought.
Great work Manuel.
To make your sentence perfect I would say: Caution! Use only in case of fire.
Hello John
The word dangerous is mis spelled 2 The sign should be Don\\\’t use this hose to anything its water for fire.
THIS IS MY THINKING
Please poor english of me.
Hi Robert
Let me help. You should say: Don’t use this hose for anything except fire.
Hi all!,
I don’t understand what the sign means…It could be:
Dangerous!
Don’t use fire service.
Bye.
Hi Su
‘Fire Service’ would be the people who come to help in a fire – the firefighters.
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
its should bo dangerous….
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
Hello everybody!
Please,Jonh, What is the problem?
xD
Hi Carolina
There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:
Danger! Do not use the fire hose.
hi john and mates
i saw many sentence all r excellant.
my view is ” this water is for fire dont use it”
john tell wether my answer is rite plz help me.
Hi Divya
Great suggestion. To make it perfect, add the word ‘only’
This water is for fire ONLY. Don’t use it for anything else.
Dear JOHN,
I would write the following: Use only in case of fire!
Regards,
Andras
Hi Andras
That would be correct as well. Good work!
Play Audio Comment
John Please tell me when One can use WATERS in a sentence. I have found the usage but am not sure about the exactness of the application area. I know where to use SKIES but about WATERS… well, I would like to share your opinion. Please mail me. Thanks a bundle.
Hi Partha
We use ‘waters’ in conversational English. Usually water is uncountable, but when it is combined with a countable noun, sometime we drop the countable noun and just make ‘water’ plural.
EG
2 glasses of water = 2 waters
2 bottles of water = 2 waters
We can do the same with other uncountable nouns. Hope this helps!
Don’t use Water, Fire Dangerous
Good effort Chaminda.
I suggest:
Don’t use water, except for fire.
Hi John,
Great post, I would like to share my opinion with everybody.
I believe the sign should state:
Danger!
Not for use on electrical fires !
Sometimes people don’t know how to use water fire hose and many people have been injured because of this.
Take care and Thanks a lot for your lessons.
Regards,
Dim
Hi Dim
Your suggestion works very well!
Yes, some people do get into trouble putting water on electrical fires. It is a very dangerous thing to do!
Well done!