Nicknames
Jan 03 2014
Intro
People have been getting and giving nicknames for as long as people have had names. Nicknames are sometimes used because a person’s name is long or hard to say, so we call them something shorter. We might use Alex for Alexander, or Liz instead of Elizabeth. Nicknames can be used in an affectionate way, to show a person that we love them. Those nicknames are often common within a family or between a couple.
Nicknames can be used to shun people as well. If you werepicked on or made fun of as a child, you might have had a nickname that made you feel terrible. Children and adults will bully each other by using rude nicknames, and unfortunately, it can be hard to get people to stop using them.
Is Marni giving Amanda an affectionate or a mean nickname? Read more in this English lesson about friendship.
Nicknames can be used to shun people as well. If you werepicked on or made fun of as a child, you might have had a nickname that made you feel terrible. Children and adults will bully each other by using rude nicknames, and unfortunately, it can be hard to get people to stop using them.
Is Marni giving Amanda an affectionate or a mean nickname? Read more in this English lesson about friendship.
Dialogue
Marni: You know what? I’ve got a special nickname for you.
Amanda: I’ve been waiting all day. What?
Marni: Demanda, because you’re so demanding and your name’s Amanda. Get it?
Amanda: I actually think that’s pretty hurtful, Marni.
Marni: Really? I thought you loved inside jokes, and you could really take it. I thought it was funny!
Amanda: You know, my whole life I was a minority and I felt like I was picked on. And apparently that never changes.
Marni: I’m sorry. I just like to give everyone nicknames, you know? Like Shorty, and Scooter, and High Five!
Amanda: I just want to feel accepted, I guess, and not bemade fun of and given a label. The name’s Amanda.
Marni: I certainly didn’t mean to shun you. I just thought it was kind of fun and funny.
Amanda: I remember someone gave me that nickname when I was five, and I just haven’t been able to live it down.
Marni: Well, I’m sorry about that. I guess I should have asked you if there was any history, you know?
Amanda: And I guess you don’t realize how good you have it by being popular.
Marni: I guess I should think about that. I certainly didn’t mean to pick on you. I’ll certainly spare your feelings, you know? Can I come up with another one, though, and run it by you?
Amanda: Sure, Barney. Barnacle.
Marni: Ooh. Ouch!
Amanda: I’ve been waiting all day. What?
Marni: Demanda, because you’re so demanding and your name’s Amanda. Get it?
Amanda: I actually think that’s pretty hurtful, Marni.
Marni: Really? I thought you loved inside jokes, and you could really take it. I thought it was funny!
Amanda: You know, my whole life I was a minority and I felt like I was picked on. And apparently that never changes.
Marni: I’m sorry. I just like to give everyone nicknames, you know? Like Shorty, and Scooter, and High Five!
Amanda: I just want to feel accepted, I guess, and not bemade fun of and given a label. The name’s Amanda.
Marni: I certainly didn’t mean to shun you. I just thought it was kind of fun and funny.
Amanda: I remember someone gave me that nickname when I was five, and I just haven’t been able to live it down.
Marni: Well, I’m sorry about that. I guess I should have asked you if there was any history, you know?
Amanda: And I guess you don’t realize how good you have it by being popular.
Marni: I guess I should think about that. I certainly didn’t mean to pick on you. I’ll certainly spare your feelings, you know? Can I come up with another one, though, and run it by you?
Amanda: Sure, Barney. Barnacle.
Marni: Ooh. Ouch!
Discussion
Marni has the best nickname for Amanda. She thinks that Amanda is a little demanding, so she’s got it… Demanda! But while Marni thinks the nickname is clever and funny, Amanda feels differently. The name hurts her feelings and doesn’t make Amanda laugh at all.
Marni says that she’s sorry, and she explains that she gives nicknames to all of her friends. She didn’t want to hurt Amanda’s feelings. Amanda shares that when she was a girl, she was given the same nickname and was unable tolive it down. It’s not something that Amanda can forget.
Even though Marni tells Amanda that she’s sorry, Amanda is so angry that she gives Marni the nickname Barney (orBarnacle). She wants to hurt Marni, too, and it works.
Have you ever called someone by a nickname that was unkind? Did you ever have a nickname given to you that was unkind? How did it make you feel?
Marni says that she’s sorry, and she explains that she gives nicknames to all of her friends. She didn’t want to hurt Amanda’s feelings. Amanda shares that when she was a girl, she was given the same nickname and was unable tolive it down. It’s not something that Amanda can forget.
Even though Marni tells Amanda that she’s sorry, Amanda is so angry that she gives Marni the nickname Barney (orBarnacle). She wants to hurt Marni, too, and it works.
Have you ever called someone by a nickname that was unkind? Did you ever have a nickname given to you that was unkind? How did it make you feel?
Grammar Point
Present Perfect Progressive
Amanda tells Marni, “I’ve been waiting all day.” She uses present perfect progressive tense.
We form the present perfect progressive (sometimes called the “present perfect continuous”) with have/has been + main verb + ing. We use this tense to talk about an on-going action that began in the past, is still in progress, and may continue into the future.
For example, you might say, “I have been thinking about getting a new car for weeks.” You first thought of getting a new car weeks ago, you’re currently thinking of getting one, and unless you buy one or decide not to buy one right now, you’ll continue thinking about it.
Or, like Amanda, you might say, “I have (I’ve) been waitingall day.” She started waiting this morning, she’s still waiting, and unless Marni shares her nickname with Amanda, she will continue to wait.
Which is correct, “We has been driving to California every summer for ten years,” or, “We have been driving to California every summer for ten years”?
Amanda tells Marni, “I’ve been waiting all day.” She uses present perfect progressive tense.
We form the present perfect progressive (sometimes called the “present perfect continuous”) with have/has been + main verb + ing. We use this tense to talk about an on-going action that began in the past, is still in progress, and may continue into the future.
For example, you might say, “I have been thinking about getting a new car for weeks.” You first thought of getting a new car weeks ago, you’re currently thinking of getting one, and unless you buy one or decide not to buy one right now, you’ll continue thinking about it.
Or, like Amanda, you might say, “I have (I’ve) been waitingall day.” She started waiting this morning, she’s still waiting, and unless Marni shares her nickname with Amanda, she will continue to wait.
Which is correct, “We has been driving to California every summer for ten years,” or, “We have been driving to California every summer for ten years”?
Quiz
See the full English lesson at English, baby!
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