What is the plural of the word 'virus'

Discussion in 'malware problems & news' started by Fernando Villegas, Mar 1, 2006.

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  1. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    Thank you. It's a bit confusing for us, Dutch speaking people, but every language has its own peculiarities.

    In Dutch we have a different spelling :
    Present time : Ik lees een boek (I read a book)
    Past time : Ik las een boek (I read a book)

    "Yesterday I read a book" would be in Dutch :
    "Gisteren las ik een boek."

    "I'm reading a book" would be in Dutch :
    "Ik ben een boek aan het lezen."

    The bottom line is : I always spelled it right, because I didn't dare to write "I red a book". After all red is a color :D
     
  2. Meltdown

    Meltdown Registered Member

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    You're welcome. In Dutch, does 'het' mean have? If so, why doesn't "Ik ben een boek aan het lezen" translate as "I have been reading a book"? Which would be different again.
    No kidding. :D
     
  3. Franklin

    Franklin Registered Member

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    Well I read (red) an article on the dangers of drinking too much alcohol.

    Scared the hell out of me!

    So from today I have definately made my mind up-no more reading for me.:mad:
     
  4. spm

    spm Registered Member

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    Soddez-la pour un joue d'alouette.
     
  5. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    No "het" is not "have".

    Let me translate "I am reading a book" word by word.
    I = Ik
    am = ben
    reading = aan het lezen
    a = een
    book = boek

    But we don't say "Ik ben aan het lezen een boek" (people will understand you, but will laugh. It's broken Dutch)
    We say "Ik ben een boek aan het lezen". In English word by word (I am a book reading), which is broken English.
    So the words are NOT in the same sequence as in English.

    I have been reading a book = Ik ben een boek aan het lezen geweest.

    Now you have an idea of my translation difficulties and this is a very simple sentence :D

    This is a funny one :
    learning by heart = uit het hoofd aan het leren. (hoofd = head)
    So we would say "learning by head". We use a different body part. LOOOOOOL
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2006
  6. Infinity

    Infinity Registered Member

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    LOL ErikAlbert, you're confusing me - but the sentence:
    "Ik ben een boek aan het lezen" is actualy not the right way of speaking I think .. I'm laughing my ass off but actualy it should be:
    "Ik lees een boek"
    and this translated:
    I read a book
    :D
     
  7. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    Both writings are correct and you should know that. :)
     
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