Monday 14 February 2011

"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence? (George Carlin)


Men are like buses
One teacher certainly tries to get her students' attention when talking about "bloody men". Actually she's reciting a poem. Teachers in general may find this interesting. And you might all like to check out these wedding customs and superstitions. Alternatively, you might find this information about getting a divorce in Spain more interesting. Then again, you might prefer this which Mª Ángeles R discovered a while back and which I have been saving for just such a time as this. 
Oh, and can anyone explain the pun in the quote above? 

15 comments:

nina said...

Too much information? It has obviously left you all speechless!

Marta F. said...

I haven't been able to understand the "rethorical" or "ironic" (or whatever it wants to be) meaning of the quote (the title of this entrance in the blog). I don't know if it was a subject to talk about today in class,so, if it was, could anybody explain it to me?

mar said...

Do you want this man/woman to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife?

"I do"

Marriage vows?

nina said...

Well done, mar, you are half-way there. However, the pun is on the word "sentence". Marta, if you are expecting any of your male classmates to help you solve the rest of the riddle .... don't hold your breath!

mar said...

Sentence of marriage?

Marriage is a sentence (punishment)?

María said...

‘Men are like buses’ is a pun that compare both of them under a disappointing point of view. You may have to wait a bus for a long time and, as soon as one approach your stop, two or three others appear. You have not much time to decide so, if you make a mistake there is no way to turn back.

María said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
nina said...

Well done. The pun focuses on the two meanings for the word "sentence":

1. (lingusitics) a grammatical unit of language

2. (law) a penalty applied to a person or entity found guilty of a criminal act

Marta F. said...

Thanks for clearing my mind about the "pun". In spite of most of the links under this quote (I am...I do...)are connected with relationships and weddings, I hadn't found the real conexion until I read your comments. Sometimes is difficult to understand quotations in "mother tongue", so in other language...it's understanble, isn't it? (to encourage people-and me- who didn't understand the "pun" by theirselves)

MARÍA JOSÉ said...

If you take the mistaken bus, it can carry you to the wrong destination and then, all your life you will be living the life you didn´t want to live.

gracia said...

Fortunately although you take the wrong bus,it is never late to get another. Life takes many turns.

nina said...

Here is my contribution:
"Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it." (Cullen Hightower)
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."(Elbert Hubbard)

carmina galeote said...

HELLO, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS VIDEO?
Is about a 5 year old girl who needs a job before getting married , is really funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rbMHLDY1pA&feature=player_embedded

Cristóbal Auladell said...

Even dogs can say 'I love you'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXo3NFqkaRM

nina said...

Im wondering, Cristóbal, if I can get my cat to do that too!