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Making friends How to answer: Do you mind if I sit down?

Fix my English! New weekly activity!

By John On March 13, 2009 · 43 Comments · In Fix This English

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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Tagged with: Camera Photo • Door Fire • Email Pictures • English Sign • Fire Hose • Fire Water • Fun Learning • Mobile Phone • Mobile Pictures • Phone Pictures • Photo • Shop Sign • Signs • T Shirt • Water Activity 
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43 Responses to Fix my English! New weekly activity!

  1. mercy says:
    March 14, 2009 at 11:21 am

    hi John…

    i think it should be

    don’t use the fire hose…

    there is no fire water!!!!

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:19 am

      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.

      Reply
  2. Sam says:
    March 15, 2009 at 12:53 am

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:20 am

      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.

      Reply
  3. Bader says:
    March 15, 2009 at 1:33 am

    Hello Jhon,

    I think the correct answar is ( Use the fire Hose Reel when it is dangrous.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:21 am

      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.

      Reply
  4. intentarr says:
    March 15, 2009 at 2:11 am

    hello Jhon,
    I think the correct answer is “Use fire water when it is dangerous”

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:24 am

      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.

      Reply
  5. Anthony says:
    March 15, 2009 at 2:18 am

    Hi John,

    I believe the right sentence is “Don’t use fire’s water”

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:22 am

      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.

      Reply
  6. Mohammad says:
    March 15, 2009 at 3:15 am

    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?!!

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:24 am

      Good work Mohammad! Excellent work!

      Reply
  7. Kemo says:
    March 15, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Hi John, have a nice weekend. I think that it should be “Dangerous don’t use fire hose?

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:25 am

      Good work Kemo!

      Don’t forget ‘the’:

      Do not use the fire hose.

      Reply
  8. a001314 says:
    March 15, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:26 am

      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.

      Reply
  9. Manuel says:
    March 16, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:27 am

      Great work Manuel.

      To make your sentence perfect I would say: Caution! Use only in case of fire.

      Reply
  10. Robert says:
    March 18, 2009 at 4:40 am

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:28 am

      Hi Robert

      Let me help. You should say: Don’t use this hose for anything except fire.

      Reply
  11. Su says:
    March 18, 2009 at 6:11 am

    Hi all!,
    I don’t understand what the sign means…It could be:
    Dangerous!
    Don’t use fire service.
    Bye.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:29 am

      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.

      Reply
  12. dhean says:
    March 19, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    its should bo dangerous….

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:30 am

      There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:

      Danger! Do not use the fire hose.

      Reply
  13. Carolina says:
    March 19, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    Hello everybody!

    Please,Jonh, What is the problem?

    xD

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 20, 2009 at 12:17 am

      Hi Carolina

      There are a few different ways to write this correctly. The best one would be:

      Danger! Do not use the fire hose.

      Reply
  14. divya says:
    March 24, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 26, 2009 at 4:18 am

      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.

      Reply
  15. Andras says:
    March 25, 2009 at 4:59 am

    Dear JOHN,

    I would write the following: Use only in case of fire!

    Regards,
    Andras

    Reply
    • John says:
      March 26, 2009 at 4:16 am

      Hi Andras
      That would be correct as well. Good work!

      Reply
  16. John says:
    March 26, 2009 at 4:39 am

    [riffly_audio]B452632019FE11DE9D5EC94D49680BD4[/riffly_audio]

    Reply
  17. Partha Ghosh says:
    June 16, 2009 at 6:38 am

    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.

    Reply
    • John says:
      July 8, 2009 at 1:31 am

      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!

      Reply
  18. chaminda says:
    September 1, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    Don’t use Water, Fire Dangerous

    Reply
    • John says:
      September 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm

      Good effort Chaminda.

      I suggest:

      Don’t use water, except for fire.

      Reply
  19. Dim says:
    September 23, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    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

    Reply
  20. John says:
    September 24, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    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!

    Reply
  21. suzy farg says:
    October 13, 2010 at 6:59 am

    In the picture it seemed to be electricity room contained electic cables ,So the sign must be :D anger!Don`t use this water hose on this place .

    Reply
  22. John says:
    October 13, 2010 at 7:07 am

    Hi Suzy
    Great idea! The picture on the door is actually a hose. The hose is inside the cupboard (inside the door).

    But I like your idea!

    Reply
  23. Nour says:
    April 3, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Hello everybody ,
    Well i think it would be good to say :
    caution! for fire hose only

    Reply
    • John says:
      April 10, 2011 at 7:45 pm

      Hi Nour
      Great try! To be correct, you should say: ‘Caution! For Fire Only”

      Reply
  24. Mutsuko says:
    June 20, 2011 at 9:30 am

    Hi John and everybody,
    First of all, ” Dangrous” is an incorrect spelling. It must be “Dangerous”.
    I would say “DANGER! KEEP OUT !” or ” DO NOT USE THE FIRE HOSE INSIDE”.

    Reply
    • John says:
      June 20, 2011 at 9:59 pm

      Excellent answer Mutsuko! Those are both suitable changes! Well done!

      Reply

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