For Students

“Like the budding trees, we can let April encourage us to branch out and try new things.” 

– Unknown

Language Exploration:

Even if you don't know every word, try to understand the meaning of the sentence. This is good practice for tests.

You can find the answers and a possible translation of the quote below.

1. What part of speech is the word “like” in this sentence?
   Select one: noun – verb – adjective – preposition – conjunction?
2. What is the difference in meaning between "budding trees" and "budded trees"?
   What does "budding" mean in this context, and what related imagery does it evoke in you?
3. Define 'branch out' in your own words, and then summarize what the sentence means using your definitions.
4. What is the difference in nuance between "try new things" and "attempt new things," and which is more appropriate in this context?
5. What is the meaning of the adjective "new" in the sentence? In other words, what qualities would we find in a thing  that is described as "new"?
6. What are some synonyms for “things” in this sentence, and what do they add to the meaning?
7. Does removing 'you can' make the sentence unclear? (Like the budding trees, you can let April encourage us to branch out and try new things.)

Note: Positive, motivational quotes in English for every day are offered by many applications and groups on social networks, such as Action for Happiness or Brainy Quote.

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Answers to the tasks above:

1. In this sentence, "like" as a preposition whose meaning is "similarly to" (something).
2. "Budding" means beginning to develop or grow (you can see some buds in the photo). Image by Jonathan Billinger / Bursting buds / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
   "Budding trees" are trees that are in the process of developing buds, while "budded trees" are trees that have already developed buds.
   It usually evokes imagery of new life, potential, and the start of a growth cycle.
3. The phrasal verb "branch out" can be understood as "try new activities" or "expand one's interests".
4. "Try" generally implies a less formal or less strenuous effort, while "attempt" suggests a more deliberate and possibly difficult effort. "Try" is more appropriate here, as it aligns with the encouraging and lighthearted tone of the sentence.
5. “New” is a descriptive adjective, and it modifies the noun “things”, specifying that the things to be tried are not things that were done before.
6. Some synonyms are “experiences”, “activities”, “endeavors”, or “ventures”. Replacing “things” with these words adds more descriptive and specific meanings.
7. Yes, it does. The phrase before the comma ("Like the budding trees") is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial of comparison. It's meant to draw a parallel. Without "you can", the imperative is targeted at "you", not at the "budding trees". Therefore, it is slightly unclear or misleading, as the comparison does not directly link to the intended subject.

Possible translation:
Stejně jako rašící stromy můžeme i my nechat duben, aby nás povzbudil k tomu, abychom se pustili se do nových věcí.

References

This educational section may include content which is adapted from AI-generated responses.