'Much' + countable nouns?

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

The word "mon" is used to address a man, woman, or child (in short, any person) in Jamaica. "Yeh" just means yes.

I'd say many (most?) Americans are familiar with the word "mon" but probably wouldn't use it unless they were trying to sound Jamaican.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Torsten]

So what about mi no lie then? Tamara used that expression in one her posts yesterday.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I'm no expert on Rasta/Patois Jamaican, but I'd say "Mi no lie" means either "I don't lie" or "I'm not lying".

Here's an interesting link:
http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF97/malyce/phrases.htm

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tamara]

[Torsten]

Hi Tamara, what about I can't help but ask?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

Actually, I have no idea why I capitalized "mon".

Maybe I just wanted to give you your due respect?

amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]

Or you could also say, among other examples:

I can't but ask.
I can't help asking.
I can't avoid asking.
I just have to ask.
I just can't resist asking.
I can't refrain from asking.
I can't suppress the urge of asking.
I can't get over my compulsion to ask.
I can't resist the (nagging) compulsion to ask.

[Tamara]

Yeh, Hon

P.S. (Hon Yeh is a real mathematician, by the way).

P.P.S. Thank you, Torsten and Conchita, for your first aid
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