The use of "Unconfident"

[Tom]

Hi

I would like to know if the word unconfident is the opposite of confident! He is an unconfident speaker. Do you find this sentence OK?

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Personally, I'd prefer not:
He is not a confident speaker.

The word "unconfident" is a valid word, but I'd say "not confident" is more commonly used.

Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

Unconfident doesn't sound very pretty. I would suggest:

A speaker lacking in confidence.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Mczery]

i found that sentence as a part of FCE use of english papers and the first option (use of past simple) was suggested as a more correct one, why can't we use past continuous in that example?
regs

[Alan]

Hi,

If you write/say: 'I was climbing ...', the reader/listener would expect to find out what happened next as in: I was climbing higher and higher when I heard the sound of an explosion.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Mczery]

thank u alan :)

i have one more question, totally different kettle of fish though:

is the expression 'the whole megillah' really strange and archaic when used by a non-native speaker? ( i heard it in the movie) my american friend told me not to use as nobody speaks like that .....
hmmm ....

[Beeesneees]

I have never heard that phrase - ever - in my entire life.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Esl_Expert]

I have heard that expression and/or variations such as 'the big magilla' and 'the real magilla'. I don't hear these 'magilla(h)' expressions very often and don't use them myself. However, I imagine it's possible that these magillah expressions might be more common in the immediate New York City area, for example.

This link has some info about the expression:
the whole magilla(h)

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“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.” ~ David Letterman

[Mczery]

i heard that phrase in 'northern exposure' said by an inveterate new yorker joel fleichman so u r right, perhaps it is much more common in that area :) or perhaps it's particularly used by the jewish .... it would make sense, taking the linguistic roots and all.
thanx

[Mczery]

why do we use present simple to talk about 'at the moment' in the following sentence:

'at the moment I spend a lot of time just making friends. '

is it 'coz the verb 'spend' is more often used in simple than contin.?

[Urbanspatialpatterns]

Just my 2 cents, but I think that your friends opinion to not use the phrase is poor advice.
I am 34 and havent heard it in a while, but I have heard and said it in my life.

If you like it and how it sounds(and understand how and when to use) please dont let anyone stop you.

I say all sorts of things that people are surprised to hear, it gives you character.

...and yes it is more of a regional/cultural phrase to be precise.

[Mczery]

yes, i guess u r right :) using specific type of vocab does give u character :)

[Torsten]

Using words that don't exist on a forum for people who want to improve their English also tells us something about your character ;-)!

TOEIC listening, talks: Job candidate is explaining why company should should hire him

[Mczery]

"The film doesn't start until 7.30. We're half an hour early."

why not "earlier"?

can anyone explain it to me, please? ;)

regs

[Mczery]

[quote="Torsten"]Using words that don't exist on a forum for people who want to improve their English also tells us something about your character ;-)!

well, i thought the forum's purpose is to ask questions connected with english .... no matter the proficiency level ;)
i found the effort made (by the natives) to help me with 'the whole megillah' phrase quite useful.