Carnival isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but if you live in ‘carnival‘ areas you maybe get the Monday free giving you a welcome longer weekend. I’m sure that is everyone’s cup of tea! As we say Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Are you embracing or escaping Carnival? Are you taking part or are you travelling away to get away from it all? Have you noticed which tense I used? Yep, the present continuous aka the NOW present. Why? We use this tense to talk about future appointments/arrangements aka ‘fixed things’ (Dave’s KISS term)
And what we haven’t made any arrangements for the Carnival period yet? There are different options depending on how sure you are about doing it. Let’s start with the next option – plans aka ‘unfixed things’. Check out this conversation
“What are you doing over Carnival?” (asking for ‘fixed things’).
“We haven’t really got around to arranging anything yet – always on the last push as you know”
“Well, we’re going to (‘fixed thing’) the Shrove Monday procession, do you want to join us?”
“Yes, that would be great, when are you going into town?” (asking for ‘fixed time’)
“I don’t know yet but we are going to head into town in the morning” (‘unfixed thing’)
“Ok, sounds good, just text me when you set off.”
“Will do, I’m sure it’ll be great – I’m getting dressed up as a clown” (fixed thing)
“That reminds me, I have a figure out a costume. I’d better get off, see you.
Have you spotted the ‘to be + going to + infinitive (main verb)’? We use this form when some plans have been made, but it’s NOT yet fixed 100%.
Check out the subtle difference:
“I don’t know yet but we are going to head into town in the morning.”
“We’re heading into town at 10a.m. so we can be there for the start.”
In example 1, plans have been made to go to the Shrove Monday procession but they haven’t arranged any times yet. (unfixed). In example 2, however, the times have also been arranged (fixed).
So whatever you are doing or going to do over the Carnival, do it well, with passion and have a great time. Alaaf.
“It’s not my cup of tea!” (Das ist nicht mein Bier), “Never look a gift horse in the mouth” (Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul), to embrace (hier: ergreifen), to take part in sth (teilnehmen), tense (Zeitform), appointment (Termin), arrangement (Verabredung), to get around to doing sth (dazu kommen etw zu tun), to be on the last push (auf den letzten Drücke sein), Shrove Monday (Rosenmontag), procession (Umzug), to head (somewhere) (gehen (in eine bestimmte Richtung), to set off (losfahren), to get dressed up as (sich verkleiden), “That reminds me”(Das erinnert mich an …), to figure out (sich über etwas klar werden), “I’d better get off” (Ich sollte lieber gehen), subtle (fein)
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Speaking of everyone’s cup of tea: My brother works in Rastatt. As his company’s headquarter is in Düsseldorf where everyone celebrates Shrove Monday and takes part in the procession instead of going to work, all other sites get an extra day off, too. Whereas in my former company the only carnival benefit was that our project leader paid for a round of Berliner as catering during our meeting. 😉
Here in Heidelberg our procession is always scheduled for Shrove Tuesday – and instead of Alaaf or Helau we say Hajo. Afterwards the Old Town is turned into a huge party area. Nothing that appeals to me…
What about you, Dave? Do you like carnival?
Jenny, as I used to live in Cologne, I guess I used to, especially Women’s Thursday when all the old songs rolled around again and you get caught up in the ‚Happy mood‘. After some years though I started to use the extra free time to get away. Hence, it’s black or white, get involved or get away!!!
Well, whatever you get up to during carnival – enjoy. TC