During our classes it is often interesting to hear the questions that come along. I found this humorous list of strange English questions and post them here for your enjoyment. Let me know if you figure out how to explain all of these to new English students!
- There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger and neither pine, nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England. French fries were not invented in France.
- Why does quicksand take you down slowly? Why are boxing rings square? Why are they called guinea pigs if they are not from Guinea and they're not pigs?
- If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth?
- If the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher praught?
- If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what in the world does a humanitarian eat?
- Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital?
- Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?
- Why does a house "burn up" as it burns down? How can you fill in a form by filling it out?
- Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
- Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
- Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?
- Why are wise men and wise guys opposites?
- If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?
