0
Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
nature
hi folks,
in German we usually call the natural environment (/Mother Nature) simply "nature".
f.i. i can say "i make a trip to the nature", meaning i spend time in forest or heath.
now it happened that some english speaking mates of mine got me wrong and made indeed fun of me calling it "nature".
question 1: how shall i call it then? do i always have to say "natural environment" or be more precisely even (forest, heath, etc)
or is there a simple/universal word for nature?
question 2: how could they have got me wrong? what else could i've meant by saying "i go to the nature"?
hehehe
in German we usually call the natural environment (/Mother Nature) simply "nature".
f.i. i can say "i make a trip to the nature", meaning i spend time in forest or heath.
now it happened that some english speaking mates of mine got me wrong and made indeed fun of me calling it "nature".
question 1: how shall i call it then? do i always have to say "natural environment" or be more precisely even (forest, heath, etc)
or is there a simple/universal word for nature?
question 2: how could they have got me wrong? what else could i've meant by saying "i go to the nature"?
hehehe
Top answer
We commonly talk more about activities, eg I hike on mountains. I go camping every weekend. I explore forest trails.
- We commonly talk more about activities, eg I hike on mountains.
- I go camping every weekend.
- I explore forest trails.
- If you do speak of nature, omit 'the' to make it a more general reference.
- eg I enjoy nature.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
We commonly talk more about activities,
eg
I hike on mountains.
I go camping every weekend.
I explore forest trails.
If you do speak of nature, omit 'the' to make it a more general reference.
eg I enjoy nature.
eg
I hike on mountains.
I go camping every weekend.
I explore forest trails.
If you do speak of nature, omit 'the' to make it a more general reference.
eg I enjoy nature.
00
0
Very often, we are more specific - in/to the mountains, country(side,) etc.
AnonymousIt just sounds very strange to a native speaker. We don't automatically associate it with what you mean. I am still amused when my Czech friends tewWhat else couldiI've meant by saying "iI go to the nature"?
00
0
Some people might say "Mother Nature is calling" when they need to go somewhere to pee. That may be what your friends were thinking of.
We would say "I like to spend time /in the mountains/at the seashore/camping in the woods/in the country (or countryside, as opposed to the city)"
We would say "I like to spend time /in the mountains/at the seashore/camping in the woods/in the country (or countryside, as opposed to the city)"
00
I agree with khoff, it borders on an idiom for relieving one's self in AmE.
A common idiom for nature is "the outdoors", I might say "I enjoy spending time outdoors."
A common idiom for nature is "the outdoors", I might say "I enjoy spending time outdoors."
0
Related Questions