Further notes on the text
1....we stopped at a square to have a rest....... We stopped at a square to have a rest.
When stopped is followed by an infinitive, it means to stop some other activity to do the action indicated by the infinitive:
On the way to the station, I stopped to buy a paper.
On the way to the station, I stopped to buy a newspaper.
If stop is followed by a gerund form, it means to stop the action:
I've stopped buying newspapers
I've stopped buying newspapers.
How can we stop him complaining?
How can we make him stop complaining?
2. after a time, after a while, soon after.
time here means "(a) period of time":
He lived abroad for a long time.
He lived abroad for a long time.
I saw him a short time ago.
I saw him just now.
After a time, the dog stopped following me.
After a while, the dog stopped following me.
3....we had our first glimpse of the snake. ...... We just saw the snake for the first time.
glimpse means "a glimpse of", "a look at", is a countable noun, often used in the following phrases:
have/ get a glimpse of, catch a glimpse of , take a glimpse at:
He took a glimpse at the 'No Parking' signs outside Jasper's gate and parked his car there.
He He took a glimpse at the 'No Parking' signs outside Jasper's gate and parked his car there.
He took a glimpse at the 'No Parking' signs outside Jasper's gate and parked his car there. (conscious, fleeting action)
This afternoon I caught/got/had a glimpse of Debbie and Dan walking together in the park. (unintentional, brief action)
4. It obviously could not tell the difference between Indian music and jazz!
(1) tell is often used in conjunction with can, could, and be able to when it means "to recognize", "to distinguish", "to identify". When expressing these meanings, tell can be used alone or in phrases with from:
My son can already tell the difference between beer and wine.
My son can already tell beer from wine.
My son can already tell the difference between beer and wine.
(2) difference between is often used to express the difference between them:
What's the difference between them?
What's the difference between the two?
What's the difference between them?
What's the difference between him/them?
There's a lot of difference between Englishmen and Frenchmen.
There are a lot of differences between Englishmen and Frenchmen.
In some cases there can be no between:
It makes no difference whether you believe me or not.
It doesn't make much difference/it doesn't matter whether you believe me or not.
Grammar Grammar in use
have + noun instead of a regular verb
In Grammar in Lesson 18, we learned some uses of the perfect verb have, and learned that it can mean either. "to have", "to possess", but also to eat, drink, enjoy,
take and so on:
I have(got) a new car.
I have a new
I have(got) a new car.
Have a good time!
Have fun!
Another way to use have is to have + noun instead of a regular verb:
Did they have a pleasant walk?
Did they have a pleasant walk?
Yes, they walked round the park.
Yes, they did.
Similar verbs are dance, fight, look, rest, ride, talk, sleep, swim, wash and so on. The use of general perfect verbs also applies to have:
Jim and I have just had a long talk.
Jim and I have just had a long talk.
I must have a wash before lunch.
I have to have a wash before lunch. (modal verb + have)
I had two dances with Lucy.
I danced twice with Lucy. (Available in plural form)