April 17, 200916 yr hi all, possibly a very stupid question, but would Thai students prefer to use kerb or curb when describing the side of the road...? goodness, so easy yet so hard! thanks in advance
April 17, 200916 yr But "curb" has nothing to do with the side of the road, so why would they "prefer" to learn something that is incorrect?
April 17, 200916 yr But "curb" has nothing to do with the side of the road, so why would they "prefer" to learn something that is incorrect? Actually I've just Googled it and realise "curb" is used by our friends over t'other side of the pond to describe a "kerb"......... how strange. I'll have to curb my enthusiasm for replying too quickly.
April 17, 200916 yr It's funny you should ask that! It depends which country you come from. We English are taught that the side of the road is a kerb and we should curb our naughty thoughts or behaviour, however, when I checked the following you can use either! Curb - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Curb (road), or kerb, the edge where a raised pavement/sidewalk/footpath, road median, or road shoulder meets an unraised street or other roadway.
April 17, 200916 yr Author and now... you see my dilemma... the sentence is in regards to road safety... we stop at the kerb / curb. i don't want to say the wrong thing. lets take a vote
April 17, 200916 yr It really depends on where you are teaching. Are you following an American Programme or an English Programme in your school? There are numerous variations of the English Language in both countries.
April 17, 200916 yr how about rubber or eraser? Rubber is what the Americans call a condom but what is an Eraser? Is that what they used to use before the "Delete" key was invented?
April 17, 200916 yr Wasn't it Churchill who said that the U.S. and England were "two countries seperated by a common language"? Anyhow you say Tomato, and I say Tomato. An eraser is what is on top of a pencil to a Yank.
April 17, 200916 yr I think you should teach both words and then indicate that one is preferred in the Rnglish style the school uses. If both words are taught there is at least understanding if either version is read, Lanaguge should be about communication not pedantry.
April 17, 200916 yr I think you should teach both words and then indicate that one is preferred in the Rnglish style the school uses. If both words are taught there is at least understanding if either version is read, Lanaguge should be about communication not pedantry. Well there's truth in what you say to a point provided the language doesn't become so mutated that sections of society don't have a clue what is being talked about. I find most Brits more able to understand American English than the other way round thanks mainly to Hollywood. ps What's a pencil?
April 17, 200916 yr Personally, I don't find the word 'curb' or 'kerb' coming up frequently enough in my classes to have an opinion here, though I know that the point is of Earth-shattering importance.
April 18, 200916 yr Personally, I don't find the word 'curb' or 'kerb' coming up frequently enough in my classes to have an opinion here, though I know that the point is of Earth-shattering importance. Quite, and if you find yourself instructing your child in road safety in English and tell them to "Stop at the kerb and look both ways for traffic" it matters little whether you use a 'c' or a 'k'.
April 19, 200916 yr Okay, does a British kerb have to be raised? American curbs are Curb your toungue, of course a kerb has to be raised.
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