The Strange English Language

Illustration copyright @ Samantha Kickingbird

Some Fun Word Stuff

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: “abstemious” and “facetious.” 

There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous”: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

“Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”.

No word in the English language rhymes with month,orange, silver, or purple.

The sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet. 


Hetronyms are words spelled the same as another but having different sounds and different meanings, as lead (to conduct) and lead (a metal).


Homographs are words with the same written form as another but different meanings, whether pronounced the same way or not, as row (an argument) and row (paddle the oars) and row (a straight line).

       The dragon wound the cloth around the wound on his leg.

      He could still lead the knights if he could get the thick lead door opened.

     The king had to refuse the dumping of more refuse.

     The princess did not object to the shinny object the dragon brought her.

     The royal carpenter built the door to close to the window—it would not close.

     The royal chef had a tear in his apron and a tear in his eye.

     Upon arrival, the royal dove dove through the window.

Deserting his dessert in the desert was not in the plan.

     The soldiers got in a row as they tried to straighten the row while rowing.
      The kingdom’s gardener was summoned to produce lots of produce, or else.

     The bass tuba had an etching of a bass on it’s stem.

     The prince, even in his present state, was to present the present to the princess.

     The wind was too strong to wind the kite string.


Then we could look at the word “Up”–quite possibly the strangest word in that it is an adverb, preposition, adjective, noun, and verbs: used with object, used without an object, or used as an idiom. Here are all the mind-boggling definitions of “Up”; http://splashurl.com/o55kb47

Want to have some grammar fun? The Dragon Grammar Book, for middle grades and up. An Amazon.com Bestseller in Language Arts Books.

https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Grammar-Book-Dragons-Kingdom-ebook/dp/B078G1VKP2/

The Dragon Grammar Book: Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom by [Robinson, Diane Mae]

Coloring/Writing Contest For Kids 6- 17

The Dragon Newsletter via author Diane Mae Robinson is pleased to announce another contest for kids. Yay! This contest will involve coloring a picture from the Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book and adding a short paragraph about the scene the participant colors and enters into the contest. The paragraph (75 to 100 words) can be dialogue,descriptive, or both. The contest is open to Canada and U.S. (including Hawaii). The contest is for kids 6 – 17 years of age.

The prizes:

 

Sling bag with Snarls the dragon logo

Value $35.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd editions, 2017,The Pen Pieyu Adventures series    

paperbacks by Diane Mae Robinson

$42.00 value

 

 

 

Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book (2)

by Diane Mae Robinson

Value $16.00

 

 

 

Drawing Fantasy Creatures    

 paperback

by A.J. Sautter

$13.00 Value

 

 

 

 

 

Drawing Dragons

paperback

by Sandra Staple

$19.00 value

 

 

How to enter the contest:

  • Contest participants can enter by signing up to The Dragon Newsletter (an occasional newsletter about my new book releases, contests, and giveaways). Upon sign up, you will receive the 55-page pdf coloring book, which are the pages for the contest. Sign-up form here: https://dragonsbook.com/subscribe/
  • Contest participants can be from a school I have previously visited on an author visit, although, a teacher from each class will have to register on behalf of the students in that class. 
  • If you are already signed up for my newsletter, you will receive the link for the pdf coloring pages again in the November/December Dragon Newsletter. 
  • One entry per person. 
  • Entries can be emailed or mailed. Mailing address details will be sent via The Dragon Newsletter November/December 2017 Edition.
  • All entries must include: Name, age, and email address used to sign up with. If you are a teacher submitting on behalf of your classroom, please also add your name, classroom grade, and email you used to sign up with. If you’re already signed up for my newsletter, you will receive the coloring pages in my newsletter of Dec. 19, 2017.  If you’re not signed up, you can sign up here: https://dragonsbook.com/subscribe/
  • Winning entries will be judged by coloring and writing skills based on age. The short paragraph about the scene should be between 75 and 100 words (dialogue, descriptive, or both, and grammar counts). 
  • Contest closes EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 1st, 2018.

Want to see last year’s winning entries? Go here: http://bit.ly/2AfGpU8

To learn more about my dragon books for children or to order autographed copies of The Pen Pieyu Adventures series: https://www.dragonsbook.com

P.S. Releasing soon The Dragon Grammar Book – Grammar for Kids, Dragons, and the Whole Kingdom by Diane Mae Robinson starring The Pen Pieyu  Adventures characters. The Dragon Grammar Book is an easy-to-understand grammar book for middle grades and up. Stay tuned for pre-order sale and release date.

 

 

 

 

 

Have fun! Dragon hugs.

Diane