【明報專訊】The Smarties have been planning a raid on Eason over the past few weeks. They have agreed on the date of attack, but there seems to be some misunderstanding...

“ MoMo: Let's go on the first of March at 5 am while he is asleep! ”

“ Bill: Sure! Let's meet outside Eason's apartment! ”

“ MoMo: I am glad that February is shorter than any other month! ”

“ MoMo: All right! I am ready, I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Where are the others? ”

“ MoMo: Hey! Are you still sleeping? ”

“ Dr Panda: 2016 is a leap year. Today is the 29th of February! ”

■English highway﹕-words and collocations

asleep and sleeping

"Asleep" can be used as an adjective, but it must not be put before a noun. It means in or into a state of sleep. "Sleeping" is the present participle of the verb "to sleep". When it is used as an adjective, it can be put before a noun.

e.g. She was so tired that she was soon sound asleep.

e.g. Let sleeping dogs lie.

■Quiz

Complete the sentence with either "asleep" or "sleeping".

(answers on next text)

1. Jerry answered the phone while he was still half _________.

2. Sometimes I have trouble _________ and would stay up all night.

3. Amber was so deeply _________ that the noise in the street did not awaken her.

■Glossary

raid (n) 突襲

misunderstanding (n) 誤解

glad (adj) 高興的

leap year (n phr) 閏年