Doppelgangers
Each week, I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. You are welcome to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
I often get Amy Adams and Isla Fisher mixed up, and they are a good example of a look-alike or doppelganger. Some people believe that we all have a doppelganger out there somewhere, and there are even social media sites designed specifically to help you find yours.
The word "doppelganger" refers to a person who closely resembles someone else, often seen as a mysterious or uncanny double. It can also imply a ghostly counterpart or an evil twin, adding an eerie element to the meaning. Historically rooted in folklore, the concept has since expanded into popular culture, where it often appears in literature, film, and everyday language to describe look-alikes. Explore the intriguing origins and uses of "doppelganger" to understand its cultural significance and deeper meanings.
If you want to see some more fun celebrity doppelgangers, check this out: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/celebrity-lookalikes-doppelgangers/bailee-madison-and-mia-mitchell/
Vocabulary
Language Level - B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Requirement (n)
- Rescue (v, n)
- Reserve (n, v)
- Resident (n, adj)
- Resist (v)
- Resolve (v)
- Resort (n)
- Retain (v)
- Reveal (v)
- Revolution (n)
Study this set of vocabulary words with this Quizlet.
Grammar Tip
Language Level - B2
Possessive's
In English, we use ’s (apostrophe + s) to show that something belongs to someone or something.
Examples:
- The doppelgänger’s stare was unsettling.
- The stranger’s coat was exactly like mine.
- The detective’s theory made me nervous.
Here’s how it works:
- Use ’s with most singular nouns:
Example: The woman’s voice, the doppelgänger’s eyes
- Use s’ (apostrophe after the s) with plural nouns that already end in s:
Example: The twins’ reflection, the sisters’ secret
- Use ’s with irregular plurals that don’t end in s:
Example: The children’s drawings
- Use “of” with inanimate objects, especially in formal English:
Example: The surface of the mirror (instead of the mirror’s surface)
Let's Practice!
Fill in the blanks using the correct possessive form (’s or s’).
- The (doppelgänger / stare) was so intense, it made me shiver.
- My friend saw the (twins / reflection) in the window and thought it was me.
- The (woman / scream) echoed through the empty hallway when she saw her double.
- The (mirror / surface) was foggy, but I could see someone who looked just like me.
- I accidentally read the (stranger / journal) and discovered shocking details about my life.
- The (detective / conclusion) was that we were both born at the same hospital, minutes apart.
- The two (friends / encounter) with their look-alikes happened in the same city.
- Everyone was fascinated by the (sisters / matching tattoos)—even though they claimed not to know each other.
Reading and Listening Tip
Language Level - B2
Very interesting video about how our brain processes faces and why some people may think two people look alike and others do not. Turn on the cc to read along:
Weekly Challenge
Language Level - C1
Read more about a new scientific study of doppelgangers here:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/are-doppelgaengers-real-revealing-the-strange-science-of-seeing-double
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