RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH.

The Chinese New Year.

2012-01-27T18:39:00.000-03:00

www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/190109/1901091.html

from:

ESOL Courses

Free English Lessons Online

Urban Dictionary is the dictionary you wrote. Define your world. 6,361,330 DEFINITIONS SINCE 1999.

2012-01-12T15:40:00.000-03:00

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

provides:

word of the day
dictionary: both definition and examples.
thesaurus

other stuff.

Here is an interesting example which illustrates everyday events:

Blackberry roulette

JANUARY 8
2902 up, 5420 down

Driving a motor vehicle while talking or texting on a cell phone.
Each time I see someone driving and talking on the phone I say to myself something's got to be done about these dangerous people; but nothing ever is. They just keep motoring along playing Blackberry roulette until one day their carelessness alters the life of an innocent.

ABBA singing HAPPY NEW YEAR.

2012-01-01T15:55:00.000-03:00

A VIDEO PRESENTED IN 1980 AT SHOW EXPRESS, GERMANY.

Interesting New Year quotations.

2012-01-01T15:48:00.001-03:00

http://www.quotegarden.com/new-year.html
some of them:

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. ~Mark Twain

Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year's resolutions, and I've stuck with it ever since. ~Dave Beard

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. ~Oscar Wilde
...................................................................................................................
humbug : behaviour or talk that is not sincere

SPECIFIC VOCABULARY FROM THE TOPIC DICTIONARY-LDOCE.

2011-08-29T14:04:00.000-03:00

Topic: ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Advertising+and+Marketing-topic-full/

Topic: BIOLOGY

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Biology-topic-full/

Topic: CLOTHES

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Clothes-topic-full/

Topic: ANIMALS

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Animals-topic-full/

Topic: FOOD

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Food-topic-full/

Topic: SPORT

http://www.ldoceonline.com/Sport-topic-full/

Topic: COMPUTERS
http://www.ldoceonline.com/Computers-topic-full/

The complete list of topics

Explore our topic dictionary
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING ANIMALS BANKING
BIOLOGY BUSINESS BASICS COMPUTERS
CLOTHES DAILY LIFE EDUCATION
FINANCE FOOD GRAMMAR
HAIR AND BEAUTY HUMAN LAW
MUSIC NATURE SPORT
STOCKS AND SHARES TECHNOLOGY TRADE

Check out this website to learn English.

2011-08-20T16:24:00.002-03:00

http://www.subingles.com/

learning English through music.

Christmas in the United Kingdom

2010-12-21T01:53:00.000-03:00

In the UK (or Great Britain), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they can watch each other open their presents!

Most families have a Christmas Tree (or maybe even two!) in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping. Christmas Trees were first popularised the UK by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert was German, and thought that it would be good to use one of his ways of celebrating Christmas in to England.

Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes or other buildings.

Like a lot of countries, Nativity Plays and Carol Services are also very popular at Christmas time. The Church that I go to always has a Carols by Candlelight Service where the church is only lit up by candles. It is a very special service and always makes me feel very Christmassy! Lots of other British churches also have Carols by Candlelight and Christingleservices.

Children believe that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, leaves presents in stockings or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by the children's beds on Christmas Eve. Children sometimes leave out mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas to eat and drink when he visits them. Now, some people say that a non-alcoholic drink should be left for Santa as he has to drive!

Children write letters to Father Christmas listing their requests, but sometimes instead of putting them in the post, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draught carries the letters up the chimney and Father Christmas reads the smoke.

There are some customs that only take place, or were started, in the UK. Wassailing is an old anglo-saxon custom that doesn't take place much today. Boxing Day is a very old custom that started in the UK and is now taken as a holiday in many countries around the world.

In Scotland, some people celebrate New Year's Eve (which is called Hogmanay) more than Christmas! The word Hogmanay comes from a kind of oat cake that was traditionally given to children on New Year's Eve.

Also in Scotland, the first person to set foot in a house in a New Year is thought to have a big effect on the fortunes of the people that live there! Generally strangers are thought to bring good luck. Depending on the area, it may be better to have a dark-haired or fair-haired stranger set foot in the house. This tradition is widely known as 'first footing'. In England it is sometimes said that a stranger coming through the door carrying a lump of coal will bring good luck.

In Scots (a Scottish dialect) Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Blithe Yule'; in Gaelic it's 'Nollaig Chridheil'; and in Welsh (which is spoken in some parts of Wales it's 'Nadolig Llawen'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

In the UK, the main Christmas Meal is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas Day. It was traditionally roast goose, although it's common to have turkey now, roast vegetables and 'all the trimmings' which means stuffing and sometimes bacon and sausages. (In Scotland, some people might even have Haggis instead of turkey!) Dessert is often Christmas Pudding. Mince pies and lots of chocolates are often eaten as well! The dinner table is decorated with a cracker for each person and sometimes flowers and candles.

from:http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/uk.shtml

The Present Continuous Tense

2010-08-24T04:03:00.001-03:00

http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentContinuous1A.html

When to use

We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.
Examples
   The kids are watching TV.
   I am sitting down, because I am tired.
   I am not learning German, because this is an English class.
   Who are you writing to?
We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment.
Examples
   Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.
   I am reading a really interesting book now.
   How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?
   We aren't working hard these days.
The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for planned future events.
Examples
   I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.
   Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.
   Are you doing anything tonight?
   We aren't going on holiday next week.

Practice
What uses of the Present Continuous Tense do these sentences have?

I am playing football tonight.
I can't play with you now. I am finishing my homework.
Where are you studying?
What are you doing these days? Working?
Sally is taking a bath.
What are you doing at the weekend?
Peter and Mary are going out. They met at Adam's party last week.

Second conditional

2009-11-22T14:29:00.003-03:00

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situation

If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.

Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.

Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn't.

Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.
If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.
If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.
What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")

I PASSED THE TEST!! TRY IT YOURSELF!!

2009-11-19T23:20:00.001-03:00

CLICK ON THIS LINK AND TAKE THE TEST ONLINE AND CHECK YOUR LEVEL!! GOOD LUCK!!

http://www.british-study.com/quizzes/grammar-test.php

Grammar Test Results

You correctly answered 40 of 40 questions. Your level is approximately Advanced.

(GOD, I HAVE BEEN STUDYING ENGLISH FOR AGES AND MY LEVEL IS APPROX. ADVANCED?????????)

Correct Answers

1. I come from England.
2. There aren't many people here.
3. Tim isn't going to work tomorrow.
4. I'd like some information, please.
5. Did you walk to school yesterday?
6. I went to the shop to buy some chocolate.
7. 'I don't like coffee.' ' Neither do I.'
8. 'Have you visited London?' ' Not yet .'
9. Is Jo as tall as Chris?
10. You should do your homework.
11. 'Where's the nearest post office, please?'
12. Would you mind closing the window?
13. He's interested in learning Spanish.
14. How long have you been learning English?
15. His office is on the second floor of the building.
16. The doctor gave me a prescription for some medicine yesterday.
17. Can you tell me when the train leaves ?
18. I expect a reply to my letter in the next few days.
19. When Simon comes back tonight, he'll cook dinner.
20. We arrived in England two days ago.
21. 'Why are you so hungry?' 'Oh, I didn't have breakfast this morning.'
22. You had better see a doctor.
23. You should take up swimming.
24. 'Did you speak to Juliet?' 'No, I've hardly seen her.
25. He told me that he had been working in Spain the previous year.
26. She looks as if she's going to be sick.
27. The best way to learn a language is by speaking a little every day.
28. She told me to go to school.
29. I want to be a teacher when I grow up .
30. I'm fed up with doing this exercise.
31. It is ages since I saw my brother.
32. She has been accused of murdering her husband.
33. You aren't allowed to use your mobile so there's no point in leaving it on .
34. You needn't have done the cleaning. I would have done it tonight.
35. They have put speed bumps on the road to prevent accidents.
36. We would never have had the accident if you hadn't been driving so fast.
37. The tree was struck by lightning.
38. If only I were richer.
39. Despite being the better team, we lost the match.
40. By this time next year, I will have taken all my exams.

Exam preparation/study tips both for written and oral exams!!!!!!

2009-10-16T14:01:00.003-03:00

-Make sure you understand what you have studied.
Don’t just try to memorise it.
-Ask your teacher or classmates for help if you find something difficult to understand.
-Look again at what you have studied as soon as possible after class.You are more likely to remember information if you look at it again within 24 hours of first hearing it.
-Organise your study time.A revision timetable will help you make the most of your study time.
-Eat something before you study. Food will give your brain the energy it needs to concentrate for long periods of time. Fruit is a good choice - the sugar in fruit will keep you more awake than coffee.
-Drink plenty of water while you study.Not drinking enough water can make you lose concentration and make it harder for you to remember information. You should drink 250ml of water for every hour of study.
-Choose places to study where you will not be disturbed.
Noise and other distractions make it difficult to concentrate and can affect the amount of information you remember.
-Take regular breaks during study time.Taking a 20 minute break every two hours will give you time to remember what you have already learned and also help you concentrate for the next two hours.
-Take practice tests. There is no better way to prepare for a test than to take regular practice tests. Not only can you learn the language you need to pass the exam, but you can also get to know the style of exam questions and practise good exam techniques.
-Join a study group.Studying with friends and classmates can help motivate you to study more regularly.
-Work out when you study best. Some people work best in the mornings, others at night. Decide when you work at your best and try to study at those times.

from: http://www.itests.com/xg/editorial/customer/links/13

General memory tips and Vocabulary memory tips.

2009-10-16T13:44:00.002-03:00

General memory tips:
Concentrate!You need to learn something before you can remember it. So listen in class and choose quiet places to study, where you can concentrate.
Ask yourself questions about what you are studying as you read
You are more likely to remember information if you have a purpose for reading it. Try to remember your lessons without your books
A very good way to remember information is to try to remember it without your books. Test your memory by making notes and then checking them against your books.
Quickly look at the main points of what you have studied at the end of each lesson to help you remember them later.
Summarise your notes using key words
these key words will help improve your memory later on. Look at what you have studied as often as possible
Regular study is a better way of remembering than trying to learn everything at the last minute.
Use different learning techniques
Generally, we remember 20% of what we read; 30 % of what we hear; 40% of what we see; 50% of what we write or say and 60% of what we do. Write material down, say it out loud, draw pictures: try to use all your senses.
Vocabulary memory tips:
Draw pictures of the words.Simple pictures are good enough. Thinking of a way to illustrate new words will help you to remember them later on. Also, pictures are easier to remember than words.
Use new words to write sentences about yourself.Using new words in a personalised way is an excellent way to memorise them. Writing words down and using them in context will help you learn the meanings. Act out words as you learn them.Perform an action which describes the word as you learn it.Say the words out loud as you learn them.
Record yourself saying the words out loud and then listen to the recording.
Look for connections between new words.
You can do this by organising words into groups. For example, by topic, in pairs (with similar or opposite meanings), by word types (verb, noun, adjective etc).
Look and listen for the new words you are learning.Look out and listen for the new words when you are speaking to people, watching TV, or reading books and magazines in English.
Write news words in a notebook.Include an example sentence. Carry the notebook with you and use it to test yourself when you have some spare time: during your lunch break or waiting for the bus.

FROM: http://www.itests.com/xg/editorial/customer/links/45

THE PLEASURE OF READING.

2009-10-12T16:08:00.001-03:00

FROM:
http://www.englishgateway.com/ArticleVm.aspx?SectionID=d110128e12974f6bb118fcb081764008&ArticleID=
2b90c31e6020490f914a4449d7a92555

Reading for pleasure is often something ESL learners don’t do. Learners will read a book, or newspaper article with a dictionary in their other hand.Reading for pleasure should be about reading for enjoyment. If learners are unable to understand the meaning of a story or book without stopping to look up numerous new words in the dictionary, then the material they’ve chosen to read is too difficult. Learners should be able to read a page of a book without having to look up more than 2-3 words from that page. That is not to say that they will clearly understand every word that they’ve read, but they should be able to understand the general meaning from the context of the sentence.Remember they’re reading to enjoy themselves, not in to study. Encourage learners to choose works that are the appropriate level. Learners may favour novels filled with suspense, action and drama, but these novels may also have difficult vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and topic specific expressions that could leave the reader feeling frustrated and discouraged after reading only a few pages.There are numerous interesting young adult novels and magazines that may be more appropriate for some learners to read. They will enjoy the material, review vocabulary and expressions that are familiar to them, learn a few new words and have a positive reading experience. They will find that reading is a pleasure.

INFINITIVE VS GERUND.

2009-10-08T14:12:00.003-03:00

GERUND OR INFINITIVE? (e.g. working or to work?)
Gap-fill exercise

COCA COLA AND ITS ADVERTISING

Complete the following text using a gerund (e.g. working) or an infinitive (e.g. to work) from the list of verbs for each paragraph.

Paragraph A - [Choose from: build; set up; run; bring; make; transform]

John S. Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886. His partner suggested------------ an advertisement for the drink in the Atlanta Journal that very year. In 1888, Asa Chandler bought the Coca-Cola business and decided------------ the product known through signs, calendars and clocks. The company began---------------- its global network when Robert Woodruff was elected president of the company in 1923. He succeeded in -----------------Coca-Cola into a truly international product by------------------- a foreign department, which exported Coca-Cola to the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928. During World War II, he promised------------------------- Coca-Cola to every soldier in every part of the world.

Paragraph B - [Choose from: decide; reflect; appear; create]

Coca-Cola's advertising has always attempted -----------------changing contemporary lifestyles. ------------------an international advertising campaign requires the talents of professionals in many areas, and extensive testing and research are always done before----------------- which advertisements will finally be used. Celebrity endorsements have featured heavily - Cary Grant, Ray Charles and Whitney Houston are just three of the big name stars who have agreed--------- in Coca-Cola commercials.

Paragraph C - [Choose from: return; change; expand; launch; drink]

After--------------- Diet Coke in 1982, the company saw its sales grow quickly. The drink is now the third most popular in the world. In 1985, the company tried------------- the secret formula of Coca-Cola, but realised that Americans were very attached to the original recipe. The company listened to its consumers and quickly responded by ------------------the original formula to the market as 'Coca-Cola Classic'. Today, people in more than 160 countries around the globe enjoy----------------- Coca-Cola. It is asked for more than 524 million times a day in more than 80 languages. The company intends---------------------- its global presence even further in the twenty-first century, particularly in developing markets.

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS HERE: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/langc/support/exercises/int/grammar/coca-cola.htm

GERUND VS INFINITIVE.

2009-10-04T16:27:00.002-03:00

Five Ways to Improve Your English Reading Comprehension

2009-08-22T15:43:00.003-03:00

taken from: http://www.1-language.com/articles/five-ways-to-improve-your-english-reading-comprehension

Improving your ability to read English quickly and accurately takes a great deal of practice. However, you don’t have to read boring materials that or ones that contain words and concepts you aren’t interested in. Once you know the basic elements of the English language, you can select from a wide variety of reading materials, including different methods of presentation. Here are a few fun ways to improve your reading comprehension.
Play word games
Today, crossword puzzles and other types of word game puzzles entertain native and non-native English speakers of all ages. If you’re looking for a way to improve your vocabulary and have fun at the same time, these types of puzzles can be of immense help to you. If this is something that interests you, you might also consider Scrabble, word searches and other similar games.
Take a speed reading course
If you aren’t interested in word games, you might want to try taking a course in speed reading. These lessons will teach you how to pick key words out of a paragraph and understand the message without having to read each sentence word for word. That said, if you’re having difficulty isolating nouns and verbs, you may need to practice more before you try taking these courses.
Take notes on subjects that interest you
If you’re reading a book on a topic that you enjoy, take some notes. These can be verbatim samples from the text or you can try putting sections in your own words. As you write, you’ll also have an opportunity to think about the sentence structures and see how ideas are conveyed. This will help you learn to discuss these topics in a way that sounds more natural.
Select materials that will challenge you
Just like with physical exercise, you need to constantly set new goals for yourself so that you continue to progress and improve. For example, if you’re able to work your way through a 100 page children’s book, it’s time to start tackling a longer book or one on a more difficult topic. Regardless of which subjects interest you the most, you’ll be able to find some books that are harder to comprehend than others. By applying yourself to the ones that are more difficult, you’ll gain increased mastery over written English.
Read materials from many different authors
Considering the number of people that have websites, it’s easy to sample a wide range of English writing styles. This will help you to learn about the flexibility of the English language, as well as the means of expression that most people are comfortable with. If you already know a great deal about a certain topic in your native language, you can use that background to help you read websites in English that focus on similar concepts.
For the most part, once you know the basic elements of the English language, practice and time will be your most valuable teachers. It’s important to spend time reading materials that interest you in as many forms as possible – and to spice up your practice with things like word games and speed reading classes. Over time – and with hard work – you’ll see dramatic improvements in your comprehension of written English.

SPEAKING ENGLISH:WARNING.

2009-08-05T20:51:00.002-03:00

Many people think that knowing a lot of words is a key to fluent speaking.It's true! However, there are many people who have wide idiolect and problem with fluency.They try to learn more and more words because they think vocabulary is their problem. They don't realize the problem is somewhere else. They always try to use exact translation of the word they want to use, but it causes that they often get stuck.If you have same problem remember that almost all words can be swapped by some other words. If you'll be speaking and suddenly stop, trying to get to your mind translation of some word, forget it! Try to say what you have on mind in other words -practising it is a real key to fluent English conversation!!!

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE.

2009-07-19T16:28:00.002-03:00

Read the news report and choose the correct verb form.

TAKEN FROM: http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/3g13-active-passive-exercise.php

Millions of dollars' worth of damage has been caused by a storm which (swept/was swept) across the north of the United States last night. The River Reiner (burst/was burst) its banks after heavy rain. Many people (rescued/were rescued) from the floods by fire-fighters. Firefighters (received/were received) hundreds of calls for help. Wind speeds (reached/were reached) ninety miles an hour in some places. Roads (blocked/were blocked) by fallen trees. Electricity lines (brought/were brought) down, leaving thousands of homes without electricity.
"Everything possible (is doing/is being done) to get things back to normal," a spokesman said. One young girl (took/was taken) to hospital after she broke her leg. She has now (sent/been sent) home.

Wordwebs phrasal verbs tool.

2009-07-16T18:16:00.004-03:00

Use this handy tool to expand your vocabulary fast.

Build phrasal verbs yourself and find out what they mean.

See how they're used in real life examples... speeding you to
fluent and natural sounding English.

http://cdextras.cambridge.org/phrasalverbs/phrasal.html

A SITE TO PRACTISE YOUR ENGLISH.

2009-07-05T04:27:00.005-03:00

http://suz.digitaleschulebayern.de/english/topics/index.php?pm=pmEnglish&subpm=pmE2

VOCABULARY

Learn the English alphabet
Lessons for the first week(s): Introducing oneself & others
Time
Daily Routine
Family
Animals
Find information on various Holidays: 1 , 2
Easter vocabulary & reading comprehension
Reading comprehension on Halloween (A2)
tasks on Christmas
School Systems
Giving Directions: vocabulary , exercises 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
Learn to describe your home by doing some tasks .
The Human Body
Sports
Shopping
Food
Media
Regional Studies
Business English

.....................................................................................

http://suz.deutsch-digital.de/english/grammar/index.php

GRAMMAR

articles: theory, a or an, phrases (1, 2) a text; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

personal pronouns: theory, 1, 2, 3, 4
possessive pronouns: theory, 1, 2, 3
relative pronouns: theory, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
interrogative pronouns: theory

plural: theory, vocabulary, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Saxon genitive: 1, 2, 3
some or any: theory & exercises 1, 2

be & have in Present Tense: 1, 2
question tags in Present Tense: 1
present simple : theory, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
asking questions in present simple: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
present continuous: theory, 1, 2, 3
present simple or continuous? 1
irregular verbs in English & German; exercise: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
past simple: theory, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
asking questions in past simple: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
past continuous : theory, asking questions
past simple or continuous: 1
present perfect simple: theory, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
present perfect continuous: theory, 1, 2

since and for: theory & exercise
since, for or ago

past simple or present perfect?
past perfect simple (theory & exercise) and continuous
future: 1, 2, 3, 4
tenses : theory 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, exercise sheets: a, b, c
conditional I & II, if - clauses: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, work sheets

modal verbs: theory, 1, 2, 3, translation
asking questions with modal verbs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

word order: examples, 1, 2, 3,

tenses & verb forms; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

passive voice : theory, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6

reported speech : theory & exercises; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

infinitive or gerund: theory

adjectives and adverbs: theory & work sheets, comparison, vocabulary, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Past simple or present perfect?

2009-07-05T04:20:00.003-03:00

TAKEN FROM:
http://suz.digitaleschulebayern.de/english/grammar/pastorpresentperfect.htm?docbase=http://suz.digitaleschulebayern.de/english/grammar/index.php

Exam taking tips.

2009-06-29T01:13:00.002-03:00

Get at least 6 hours sleep the night before a test
You are more likely to remember what you have learned if you have had a good night’s sleep.
Eat before a test
Food will give your brain energy and help you to concentrate.
Wear comfortable clothing
Being uncomfortable is a distraction. Also, it’s better to wear several layers of clothing so you can put on or take off an item if you feel hot or cold.
If possible, sit at the front of the examination room
If you sit at the front of the room you are less likely to be distracted by other students and can hear the recording better for the listening paper.
Make sure you understand all the instructions before you begin
Don’t be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat any information you are unsure about.
Before you start your test, quickly look at the whole test paper
Looking at the test paper quickly before you start will help you to manage your time better. Decide how long you should spend on each question.
Always read the questions carefully.One of the most common mistakes students make is not to read the questions carefully enough. Read all instructions slowly and twice if you have time.
Answer the questions you find easy first .Answering the questions you find easy first will give you confidence and save you time later on.
Don't waste time on questions you cannot answer.Spending a lot of time on a question can make you lose confidence. If you can’t answer a question go to the next one and come back to it later, if you have time.
Check your answers carefully.If you have time at the end of the exam, read through your answers. But remember, your first answer is usually correct so only change answers if you see a mistake.
Be positive and try to stay relaxed .If you are relaxed you will be able to concentrate better. Breathe slowly and deeply and try to put all negative thoughts out of your mind.

from : http://www.itests.com/xg/editorial/customer/links/13

HOW TO STUDY ENGLISH EFFECTIVELY.

2009-06-28T04:10:00.005-03:00

TAKEN FROM : http://esl.about.com/od/intermediateenglish/a/study_english.htm
There are many ways to study English, but many students ask which is the most effective. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a single answer that is right for every student.

However ... I can certainly give advice I some helpful guidelines as to how to study that should help.
Warming-up to Study English
Just as there are exercises to help you warm up before you play some basketball or other sport, there are exercises which can help you warm up to study English.

Here are some simple exercises to help you warm up.
Study English I: Activating Your Vocabulary
Activate your vocabulary by thinking or speaking briefly about the subject you are about to work on. For example, if you are going to study English on topics that focuses on vacations, take a moment to think about your last vacation, what you did, what you enjoyed, etc. This simple exercise will help your brain warm-up to vocabulary that you are likely to encounter as you study English about this particular subject.
Study English II: Activating Your Grammar
Activate your grammar by thinking about the general grammar area before you begin to study. For example, if you are going to study English grammar focusing on the past, stop to think about what you did last weekend, where you went, etc. to help activate what you already understand about using the past. As with activating vocabulary, you'll help your brain bring up what it knows about the past simple in an easy way before you begin to focus on studying English grammar in detail.
Study English III: Singing a Song
Before class begins, or before you sit down to study English sing a song in English to yourself. Make sure to use a song that you understand and know very well. This short and fun exercise will help your brain focus on the English language in a relaxing manner. It's important to be relaxed when you study English! Singing a song also helps activate the creative side of your brain which can help you come up with more examples as your practice conversation or do some creative writing.
Study English IV: Typing a Short Paragraph in English
If you going to study English at your desk, begin by typing a simple paragraph in English. You can type about your day, your hobbies, your friends, etc. Anything will do. Typing helps activate the kinetic part of your brain that helps improve learning through physical activity. I also recommend typing while you study your English grammar. This will help solidify your knowledge with movement.
Study English V: A Thousand Words ...
As the saying goes in English: A picture is worth a thousand words. Help activate the creative side of your brain by trying to describe a photo or other image. You can combine use this also to activate your vocabulary by choosing a picture that has something to do with the subject your are going to study in English.

Study English - Tips for Success
Here are some tips for success to help you as you study English.
Study English Every Day
It's important to study English every day. However, don't exaggerate! Study for thirty minutes every day instead of two hours once a week. Short, steady practice is much better for learning than long periods on an irregular basis. This habit of studying English every day will help keep English in your brain fresh.
Study English Using Different Methods to Learn
Don't just use one way to study English. Use a variety of methods which will help all the parts of your brain (multiple intelligences) help you. For example, if you are learning new vocabulary, create a word map, describe a picture, make a list and study that, type out the words five times. All of these methods together help to reinforce your learning.
Study English by Finding some Friends
There is nothing like having a few friends to study English together. You can practice the exercises together, have conversations together (in English!), and, as you study English together, help each other with exercises you may not understand.
Study English by Choosing Topics that Interest You
One of the most important things to do is to study English using topics that you like. This will help motivate you because you will also be learning about a topic you find interesting while you study English.
More Ideas on How To Study English
How To Improve Your Pronunciation
How To Improve Your English
How to Improve your Vocabulary

LISTENING AND READING FROM :BBC LEARNING ENGLISH.

2009-06-20T17:44:00.003-03:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/081222_download.shtml

Words in the News: Canadian seals: Report (1.2 MB)mp3Words in the News: Canadian seals: Words (1.3 MB)mp3Words in the News: Canadian seals: Text (36 K)pdfFace up to Phrasals: Episode 3: Audio (465 K)mp3Face up to Phrasals: Episode 3: Script (38 K)pdf6 Minute English: Going gliding: Audio (4.8 MB)mp36 Minute English: Going gliding: Script (38 K)pdfWords in the News: Acropolis Museum row: Report (1.0 MB)mp3Words in the News: Acropolis Museum row: Words (1.1 MB)mp3Words in the News: Acropolis Museum row: Text (36 K)pdfQuiznet: At work: Download the quiz (32 K)pdfNews about Britain: Sunbeds: Audio (1.9 MB)mp3News about Britain: Sunbeds: Activities (53 K)pdfKeep your English up to date: Subprime: Audio (2.2 MB)mp3Keep your English up to date: Subprime: Text (34 K)pdfThe Flatmates: Episode 201: Audio (849 K)mp3The Flatmates: Episode 201: Language: Time expressions (66 K)pdfThe Flatmates: Episode 201: Quiz: Time expressions (68 K)pdfTalk about English: Academic Listening Part 8: Audio (8.9 MB)mp3Talk about English: Academic Listening Part 8: Script (48 K)pdfWords in the News: Iran opposition rally: Report (622 K)mp3Words in the News: Iran opposition rally: Words (1.0 MB)mp3Words in the News: Iran opposition rally: Text (35 K)pdfRecipes: Gnocchi: Text (18 K)pdf

LEARN English Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation

2009-06-20T16:55:00.006-03:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/

HERE ARE SOME OF THE LINKS ON THIS BBC PAGE TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH:
Words in the News

Keep your English up to date

The Teacher

Active and Passive Voice : THEORY AND EXAMPLES.

2009-06-17T15:29:00.002-03:00

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html

Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

2009-06-14T03:15:00.008-03:00

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses. Check your answers by clicking on the link below.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs12.htm

1. When I (arrive) home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) a beautiful candlelight dinner.
2. Since I began acting, I (perform) in two plays, a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, never even) publicly before I came to Hollywood in 1985.
3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) without me. My boss (be) furious with me and I (be) fired.
4. When I (turn) the radio on yesterday, I (hear) a song that was popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) the song in years, and it (bring) back some great memories.
5. Last week, I (run) into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) each other in years, and both of us (change) a great deal. I (enjoy) talking to her so much that I (ask) her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for dinner.
6. When Jack (enter) the room, I (recognize, not) him because he (lose) so much weight and (grow) a beard. He looked totally different!
7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the

Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) by the time Europeans first (arrive) in the New World.
8. I (visit) so many beautiful places since I (come) to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear, never) of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, or Canyonlands.

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES.

2009-06-13T22:45:00.002-03:00

*CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW ,

*READ AND

*STUDY THE EXAMPLES TO IMPROVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES.

http://www.edufind.com/English/Grammar/REL2.CFM

PHRASAL VERBS

2009-06-12T17:01:00.002-03:00

For the sake of simplicity, the distinction between phrasal and prepositional verbs is not taken into account by some grammarians. However, this distinction is crucial, since it helps us to know where to put the object of the verb.

A phrasal verb can be defined as a verb followed by an adverb; a prepositional verb, by a preposition. Notice that a preposition takes a noun, pronoun or gerund, but an adverb does not. The following examples will help you to illustrate this:
She took her coat off. (phrasal verb)
She took off her coat.
She took it off.
He gets up early in the morning. (phrasal verb)
I’m looking for my hat. (prepositional verb)
I’m looking for it.

The combination ‘a verb + an adverb + a preposition’ is a phrasal-prepositional verb:
I will have to work very hard to catch up with the rest of the class.
She ran off with the money.
He got away from prison last night.

Say whether the combinations in the sentences below (which are given in bold type) are phrasal verbs, prepositional verbs or phrasal-prepositonal verbs.

a She went out of the building.
b Switch the light on/Switch on the light/Switch it on.
c They are looking into the matter carefully.
d She can’t put up with his bad manners.
e The policeman ran after the juvenile delinquent, but he couldn’t catch him.
f Pick it up at once.
g The thieves ran away with their loot.
h She was heading away from her home town when she realised that she had forgotten something there.
i She was heading towards the beach when I saw her.
j Put that cigarette out, please/Put out that cigarette, please/Put it out, please.
k Can we put off the meeting till tomorrow?/Can we put the meeting off till tomorrow?/Can we put it off?
l Ice turns into water when it is heated.
m How are you getting along with your wife now?
n I’ll call you back later.
o Sit down, please.
p Their car broke down.
q When you are exhausted, it is very difficult to get down to work.
r Please write it down.
s We must draw up a plan/We must draw a plan up/We must draw it up.
t Put those toys away immediately/Put away those toys immediately/Put them away.
u Now, turn over the page/Turn the page over/Turn it over.
v We’d better send for the doctor, as he’s very ill.
w Her parents are always telling her to look for a boy and settle down.
x I’m looking forward to my summer holidays.
y She couldn’t get through to you last night, as the line was engaged all the time.
z I waited for her all afternoon, but she didn’t turn up.

FREE ENGLISH TEST.

2009-06-12T15:50:00.004-03:00

www.english4today.com/assessment/english4today_leveltest.cfm

It covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening.
YOU NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL IS!
WHY?
Good English is no longer just for the academics ... we all need it if we are going to get ahead in an increasingly competitive and information driven culture. The way you speak, read and write English - the way you communicate can mean the difference between success and failure.

PRACTISE LISTENING: Podcast &Listening Downloads

2009-06-12T15:15:00.004-03:00

AT:http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-podcast-english-listening-downloads-homepage.htm

Visit our new English Podcast homepage for access to all our podcasts and our new feed. Click here.

Lebanon (2.7 Mb) (script) (19Kb)Four Lebanese people talk about their country.
Alcohol abuse (3.3Mb) (script) (20Kb)Listen to an MP talk about the problem of binge drinking.
Social mobility (2.86Mb) (script) (21Kb)A report on social mobility in India.
Report writing (2.5Mb) (script) (87Kb)Listen to an IELTS examiner give some tips on writing reports.
Allergies (3.4Mb) (script) (92 Kb)Why may allergies be on the increase?
The gas industry (2.21Mb) (script) (19.2Kb)Listen to a business news report on the gas industry.
The rise of the amateur (2.52Mb) (script) (19Kb)A young entrepreneur talks about his experiences.
Crime (4.94Mb) (script) (95Kb)A Crime Prevention Officer talks to a burglary victim.
The oil industry (2.42Mb) (script) (97Kb)Listen to a radio news report about the future demand for energy.
Fair trade (2.13Mb) (script) (98Kb)Listen to a market researcher asking shoppers about Fair Trade products.
Logistics (4.1Mb) (script) (89Kb)Five people talk about their work in a logistics company
Studying in the UK (3.37Mb) (script) (87.4Kb)Listen to three university students talking about studying in the UK.
Nuclear energy - a green energy? (3Mb) (script) (96Kb)Listen to people commenting on Lovelock's opinion that nuclear energy is green energy.
The music business (3.57Mb) (script) (104Kb)A discussion about recent changes in the music industry.
The Airbus (2.73Mb) (script) (85Kb)Listen to part of a lecture on the Airbus.
The Future of English (4.11Mb) (script) (90Kb)Listen to a controversial Linguistics expert talking about the future of the English language.

For other listening downloads please go to the Listening downloads archive page.

Combining past simple and present perfect .

2009-06-11T02:04:00.009-03:00

Umed from Iraq writes:
In the news, I heard a reporter from BBC World talking about the casualties of a blast.
"Two have been killed and twenty were injured," he said.
My question is: is it possible to use two different tenses when describing the same event (have been and were) and what is meant by this?
......................................................
Roger Woodham replies:
Have been or were?
Combining have been and were in this way is perfectly acceptable here, Umed. Often, in language use, deciding whether to use the present perfect or the past simple depends on your perspective on the event.

Two people were killed when the bomb went off but the effect of that is still with us - the recent past is connected to the present, so I choose to use the present perfect passive tense. Similarly, twenty people were injured when the explosion occurred - I am thinking of that moment in time in the past, so I choose to use the past simple passive. But their injuries are still evident at the present time, so I could have used the present perfect passive. There are no time phrases in this example to guide us, so any combination is possible depending on whether you are viewing it as a past act or one that impacts on the present:

Two people have been killed in an explosion and twenty have been injured.

Two people were killed in a bomb blast and twenty were injured.

Two people have been killed in an explosion and twenty were injured.

Two people were killed in a bomb blast and twenty have been injured

Of course, if you decide to specify the moment in time when this happened as a fixed point in the past, you are obliged to use the past simple passive:
Two people were killed this morning when the bus they were waiting for mounted the pavement and crashed into the bus stop.
You would then continue with this tense:

Six more were seriously injured and taken to the nearest hospital.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some more examples of the way in which these tenses have been combined and used in press and media reporting over the last few days:

Sea marshes return to Norfolk
Sea defences, which were erected to protect farmland on a mile-long stretch of coastline in East Anglia, have been dismantled in order to return 200 acres to salt marsh.

Here, the past simple passive is used first to describe the erection of the sea defenses at some point in the past and then the present perfect passive to describe their dismantling, the effect of which is still with us.

The Oktoberfest draws larger crowds
Beer consumption and attendance have both risen at this year's Oktoberfest in Munich. The world's biggest beer party has so far drawn 5.1 million visitors and roughly 5.7 million litres of beer have been served since 21 September.

Note that this event was still in progress when the report was made, so only the present perfect is used. Note the use of time adverbials, so far and since 21 September, which are associated with the present perfect.
If it had been written after the festival had ended and was clearly in the past, it would have looked like this:

Beer consumption and attendance both rose at this year's Oktoberfest in Munich. The world's biggest beer party drew a total of 5.9 million visitors and 6.4 million litres of beer were served during the course of the festival.

Knifeman attacks Paris mayor
The Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, was stabbed during an all-night party at the town hall yesterday. The suspect, Azedine Berkane, a computer programmer, has been arrested. He was taken into custody immediately and has confessed to the stabbing, according to judicial officials.

Here, we are back to a mixture of past simple and present perfect. The stabbing occurred at a particular point in time in the past, so the past simple passive is used. The suspect is still under arrest, so the present perfect passive is used here. He was taken to the police station immediately after the stabbing - this is a finished action, so the past simple again. He has not withdrawn his confession, so we return to the present perfect here.

TAKEN FROM : http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/
learnit/learnitv241.shtml

SIMPLE PRESENT:THEORY AND EXAMPLES.

2009-06-03T22:03:00.002-03:00

http://www.studyenglishtoday.net/present-simple-tense.html

To form the Present Simple Tense we use the infinitive(go, work, speak, study).

In 3rd person singular (he, she, it), the base form of the verb takes -s/es.

Affirmative form

I /you /we/ they work-go-watch-play-study

he/she/it works /goes /watches /plays /studies

Remember:

to be I am you/we/they are he/she/it is

to do I/you/we/they do he/she/it does

to have I/you/we/they have he/she/it has

....................................

Negative form

I/ you/ we/ they DO NOT /don't WORK

he/she/it DOES NOT /doesn't / WORK

1. She doesn't often go to the cinema.

2. I don't get up early at the weekend.

3. They don't speak English very well.

........................................

Interrogative form

DO you/I/we/they WORK?

DOES he/she/it WORK?

.....................................

Questions and short answers:

Do you like spaghetti?Yes, I do.No, I don't.

Does she know Bulgarian? Yes, she does.No, she doesn't.
..............................

With Present Simple Tense we often use time expressions such as

always, often, sometimes, usually, seldom, on Saturdays, rarely,hardly ever, never, every day, etc.
.................................
Notes about formation of the 3rd person singular (he, she, it):

***If the verb ends in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x or -o, add -es to the base form:

kiss - kisses, finish - finishes, watch - watches, mix - mixes, go - goes

***If the verb ends in consonant + y change y to i and add -es:

study - studies, copy - copies, try - tries, carry - carries

SPEAK ENGLISH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-03T21:57:00.003-03:00

http://speaking24.com/index.php

Here you will find people who want to practise their English speaking skills online!
Check on the list who is currently online and just call him using Skype, MSN, ICQ or Yahoo!
You can also fill in your profile to apear on the listand wait for other person's call. Have fun & Enjoy!

PASSIVE VOICE :THE STORY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

2009-05-30T20:21:00.007-03:00

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use Simple Present or Simple Past.

The Statue of Liberty .........................(give) to the United States by France.It .................................(be) a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States.The Statue of Liberty ................................(design) by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.It................................... (complete) in France in July 1884.In 350 pieces, the statue then ...................................(ship) to New York, where it...................... (arrive) on 17 June 1885.The pieces........................ (put) together and the opening ceremony .........................(take) place on 28 October 1886.The Statue of Liberty ........................(be) 46 m high (93 m including the base).The statue ................................(represent) the goddess of liberty.She............................... (hold) a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.On the tablet you ......................................(see / can) the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).Every year, the Statue of Liberty .............................(visit) by many people from all over the world.

.....................................................

ANSWER KEY:
The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France. It was a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States. The Statue of Liberty was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was completed in France in July 1884. In 350 pieces, the statue then was shipped to New York, where it arrived on 17 June 1885. The pieces were put together and the opening ceremony took place on 28 October 1886. The Statue of Liberty is 46 m high (93 m including the base).The statue represents the goddess of liberty. She holds a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand. On the tablet you can see the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776). Every year, the Statue of Liberty is visited by many people from all over the world.

What is a relative clause?

2009-05-28T16:50:00.004-03:00

We use relative clauses to give extra information about something. We can get more information into a sentence without the need to start a new one.
There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining:
‘Saris which are made of silk are expensive.’= defining relative clause
‘Saris, which are made of silk, are expensive.’ = non-defining relative clause
*The first sentence tells us that silk saris are expensive (we can guess there are other saris made of cheaper materials). This is a defining relative clause.
*The second sentence tells us that saris are expensive and that they are ALL made of silk. The information between the two commas ‘,which are made of silk,’is extra information and can be taken out and the sentence meaning remains the same ‘Saris are expensive’. This is a non-defining relative clause. This type of clause is common in written English. In spoken English a pause is used instead of a comma.
Relative Pronouns
In both defining and non-defining relative clauses we us the following relative pronouns:
Who= is for people: ‘The person who lives next door is a doctor.’
Whose = is used to show ownership/possession ‘The woman whose son you met.’
Whom = object pronoun, although ‘who’ can be used in informal Englsih.’I saw the man whom you saw at the party’.
Which= is used for things: ‘The car which you bought is cool.’
That = Can be used informally instead of ‘who’ and ‘which’.

Relative Adverbs
Relative adverbs are used like relative pronouns:
When = is used for a time. ‘The time when I last saw you.’
Where = is used for a place ‘The place where I used to live.’
Why = is used for a reason ‘The reason why I am late.’

Reducing Relative Clauses

If the pronoun ("that", "who", "which") is the object of the verb, it can be omitted.In defining relative clauses, when the pronouns 'that', 'who' and 'which' are the objects of the verb can be taken out and the meaning of the sentence stays the same.
Look:
'The man (that) I work with collects snakes.
''The person (who) I spoke to knows you.
''The shop (which) she likes has closed down.
'When the pronoun is the subject of the sentence it must be used:
'The shop which hired her has closed down.

..................................................................
FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE CORRESPONDING PRONOUNS:
I got married ___ I was 27.
Our love of fast cars is the reason ___ we bought a Porsche.
Sarah is the woman ___ was wearing the red dress.
The taxi ride,____ brought me here, was very cheap.
Tom, ___ girlfriend is a model, is standing over there.
My company has a cafe ___ I use at lunchtime.
A post office is a place ___ we can buy stamps.
It is my brother ___ lives in Brighton, not me.
A calculator is something ___ we use to do maths problems on.
Christmas is the time ___ people give gifts in my country.
The doctor, ___ name is Frank, is away today.

TAKEN FROM: http://learnenglish.ecenglish.com/what-a-realtive-clause#comment-517

PASSIVE VOICE.

2009-05-20T16:01:00.002-03:00

HOW THE PASSIVE IS FORMED:

http://www.english-4u.de/passive.html

PASSIVE VOICE IN PRESENT,PAST AND FUTURE TENSES.

2009-05-20T15:57:00.003-03:00

TAKEN FROM: http://www.english-4u.de/passive_ex3.htm

1 English ----------------(speak) all over the world. (Present tense)
2 This quarrel ---------------------(forget) in a few years' time. (Future tense)
3 My pencil case------------------------- (steal). (Present perfect)
4 We---------------------------- (never / beat) at badminton. (Present perfect)
5 This shirt----------------------- (make) in France. (Past tense)
6 The dogs----------------------------- (keep) in house. (Present tense)
7 Her new book ----------------------(publish) next month. (Future tense)
8 Milk -------------------------(use) to make butter and cheese. (Present tense)
9 They ----------------------(take) to school. (Past tense)
10 Not a sound ---------------------(hear). (Past tense)
11 Some ink------------------ (spill) on the carpet. (Present perfect)
12 The thieves----------------------------(catch) by the police. (Past tense)
13 The homework------------------------- (correct) by the teacher. (Future tense)
14 Her ring ---------------------(find) under the bed. (Past tense)
15 I -------------------------------(offer) an interesting job. (Past tense)
.........................................................
Answer key:

1 English is spoken (speak) all over the world. (Present tense)2 This quarrel will be forgotten (forget) in a few years' time. (Future tense)3 My pencil case has been stolen (steal). (Present perfect)4 We have never been beaten (never / beat) at badminton. (Present perfect)5 This shirt was made (make) in France. (Past tense)6 The dogs are kept (keep) in house. (Present tense)7 Her new book will be published (publish) next month. (Future tense)8 Milk is used (use) to make butter and cheese. (Present tense)9 They were taken (take) to school. (Past tense)10 Not a sound was heard (hear). (Past tense)11 Some ink has been spilt (spill) on the carpet. (Present perfect)12 The thieves were arrested by the police. (Past tense)13 The homework will be corrected (correct) by the teacher. (Future tense)14 Her ring was found (find) under the bed. (Past tense)15 I was offered (offer) an interesting job. (Past tense)

PASSIVE AND ACTIVE EQUIVALENTS.

2009-05-20T15:51:00.002-03:00

Notice that the tense of the verb to be in the passive voice is the same as the tense of the main verb in the active voice.

Example: to keep
EACH VERB TENSE IS FOLLOWED BY ACTIVE VOICE FORM AND THEN PASSIVE VOICE FORM.

Simple present keep(s) - am/is/are kept
Present continuous is keeping - am/is/are being kept
Simple past kept - was/were kept
Past continuous was keeping - was/were being kept
Present perfect have kept -have/has been kept
Past perfect had kept - had been kept
Simple future will keep - will be kept
Going to-future is going to keep - am/is/are going to be kept
Modals: can keep -can be kept // should keep - should be kept //could keep - could be kept

Some example sentences with other verbs:
Active: I had told the students to study hard but...
Passive: The students had been told to study hard but...
Active: My 3rd year students have understood the passive at last!!!!!!!!
Passive: The passive has been understood by my 3rd year students at last!!!!!!!!!
Active: They are repairing the road.
Passive: The road is being repaired.
Active: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet and Macbeth.
Passive: Hamlet and Macbeth were written by Shakespeare.
Active: I was telling an interesting story to the students when someone interrupted!!
Passive: The students were being told an interesting story when someone interrupted!!
Active: Students can remember topics easily when they're relevant for them.
Passive: Topics can be easily remembered by students when they are relevant for them.

N.B. :ADAPTED FROM A WEBSITE BUT MOST EXAMPLE SENTENCES MADE BY THIS TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE PASSIVE VOICE.

2009-05-20T15:05:00.005-03:00

The relationship between the agent (the one who performs the action) and the action (verb) is called voice. English has two voices--active and passive.
In the active voice, the grammatical subject performs the action of the verb:

-Cervantes wrote Don Quixote.
In the passive voice, the grammatical subject receives the action--something is done to the grammatical subject:

-Don Quixote was written by Cervantes.

The meaning of the two sentences is the same. The difference is in emphasis or point of view. In the active sentence, the attention of the reader is focused on the agent or person who performs the action (Cervantes, in the example). The agent receives more emphasis or attention.
In the passive sentence, the attention of the reader is focused on the receiver of the action (Don Quixote, in the example).

..............................................
Formation of the Passive Voice.

The transformation of an active sentence into a passive sentence is a three-step process:

1. Move the object of the active sentence to subject position in the passive sentence.

2. Change the verb to passive form (two parts).

3. Move the subject of the active sentence to object position preceded by the preposition by (optional).

Example:
In order to change the active verb to its corresponding passive form, we need to do two things:

1. Put the verb to be in the same tense as the verb in the active sentence. In this example the verb is in the simple past, so we use the past tense of be.
2. Use the past participle of the verb in the active sentence.(=THE MAIN VERB)
The passive verb, therefore, has two parts. The verb to be indicates the tense, and the past participle indicates the action.

Only sentences containing direct objects can be made into passive sentences because the direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. If the sentence does not have a direct object, you cannot change it into a passive sentence.

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Examples of Passive Forms
The students write reports. Reports are written by the students.
The students wrote reports. Reports were written by the students.
The students will write reports. Reports will be written by the students.
The students are writing reports. Reports are being written by the students.
The students were writing reports. Reports were being written by the students.
The students have written reports. Reports have been written by the students.
The students had written reports. Reports had been written by the students.
The students are going to write reports. Reports are going to be written by the students.
The students can write reports. Reports can be written by the students.
The students could write reports. Reports could be written by the students.
The students should write reports. Reports should be written by the students.
The students must write reports. Reports must be written by the students.
The students may write reports. Reports may be written by the students.
The students might write reports. Reports might be written by the students.
The students have to write reports. Reports have to be written by the students.
The students ought to write reports. Reports ought to be written by the students.
The students should have written reports.Reports should have been written by the students.
The students would have written reports. Reports would have been written by the students.
The students could have written reports. Reports could have been written by the students.
The students will have written reports. Reports will have been written by the students.
The students must have written reports. Reports must have been written by the students.
The students may have written reports. Reports may have been written by the students.
The students might have written reports. Reports might have been written by the students.
The students ought to have written reports. Reports ought to have been written by the students.

NOTE: Although it is theoretically possible to use the passive voice with the perfect progressive forms, they are hardly ever used. The student is advised NOT to use the perfect progressive passive forms. They are considered to be poor style and difficult to understand.

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Omission of by.
It has been estimated that only 15 to 20 percent of passive sentences mention the agent (in a phrase with by). We do NOT normally use the by-phrase in the following cases:
1. When the agent is unknown.
*My car was stolen. ( I do not know who stole it.)
*This table was made in England. (I do not know who made it.)
2. When the agent is obvious or unimportant.
*A lot of rice is eaten in Japan. (Obviously by the Japanese.)
*Oranges are grown in California and Florida. (Obviously by orange growers.)
*An incision is made around the optic nerve and the optic nerve is released.(This example is a good illustration of using the passive to emphasize a procedure or process. It is obvious that a surgeon performs the operation. What is important here is what the surgeon must do, not the surgeon himself.)
3. When we do not want to mention the agent.
*The administration admitted that mistakes were made in its handling of the affair.(The administration does not want to blame anybody, or perhaps does not want to accept responsibility, so the by-phrase is not used.)
4. When the agent has been mentioned previously.
*Don Quixote was written by Cervantes. It was finished in 1616.(It was finished by Cervantes, who has already been mentioned.)
5. When the agent is very general.
*His writings are now widely accepted and can no longer be described as controversial.(by his readers in general)
*Antibiotics should not be considered as a replacement for aseptic procedures.(by doctors in general)
*His theories have never been refuted or even attacked.(by anyone)

...................................................................
WARNING
Some sentences change meaning when transformed into the passive. Be careful with general statements such as:
*Beavers build dams.(True - This is normal activity for beavers.)
*Dams are built by beavers.(False - Humans also build dams, not only beavers.)

..................................................................
Inclusion of by.
The agent with by is usually expressed
1. When the agent is new information.
*This is a true story and was told to me by my mother when I was a little boy.
*A: I really like the red paint on your car.B: Thanks. It was painted by my friend Bob.
2. When the agent is not human.
*In a shunt motor, speed is usually controlled by a rheostat connected in series with the field windings.
*Most standardized tests are corrected by a computer.
3. When the agent is well known and should be included because it is important information.
*The fountain in Lyon, located in front of Lyon's city hall, was designed by Bartholdi, the designer of the Statue of Liberty.

.................................................................
Impersonal "it" with passive.

When we mention the words or thoughts of people in general, we often use an impersonal "it" structure:
It is assumed that the user is familiar with cut-and-paste techniques.
It is believed that Cervantes' life as a slave from 1575 to 1580 became the source of inspiration for some episodes in Don Quixote.
It is estimated that 90% of the visible universe is composed of hydrogen.
It is expected that the student will be able to finish all the course requirements within two years. It is known that ultraviolet radiation absorption generates free radicals in damaged cells.
It is thought that Titan, Saturn's largest moon, may possess bodies of liquid ethane.
It is understood that this application becomes a contract when signed by us.
It was agreed that students should be encouraged to buy wireless cards with any new laptops.
It was decided that applicants must be fluent in English.
It was felt that the meeting should be held in a neutral country.
In one study, it was found that spiced apple scent improved performance on a high-stress task.
It was reported that a car had been vandalized while parked in front of the police station.
It was rumored that he had fought with the French resistance during World War II.

...................................................
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs are verbs which refer to states instead of actions. Some stative verbs are not normally used in the passive. Examples are deserve, desire, fit, have, hear, lack, like, resemble, suit, etc.
*Steve has a beautiful car. (NOT A beautiful car is had by Steve.)
*He resembles his father. (NOT His father is resembled by him.)
*We lack the necessary funds. (NOT The necessary funds are lacked by us.)
Many stative verbs are used in the passive, however. These include verbs such as .admire, adore, astonish, believe, contain, detest, despise, dislike, envy, forget, hate, keep, love, prefer, etc.
*The criminal is believed to be in the area.
*He was loved by all who knew him.
*The matter was soon forgotten.

The problem for the student is that there are no exact rules that will tell him when to use or avoid stative verbs in the passive. Sometimes these verbs are only used in the passive in special way. Take the verb like, for example:
*I like mushroom pizza. (NOT Mushroom pizza is liked by me.}
*He was liked by everyone.

The best way to learn about stative verbs and the passive is by experience. Read extensively in English and notice which stative verbs are, or are not, used in the passive, as well as how and when they are used.

....................................
By vs. With.

By is used with the agent, whereas with is usually used to refer to a tool or instrument.

He was killed by a mob/a mountain lion/a drunk driver.
He was killed with a blunt object/a rifle/a single shot.

Verbs with Direct and Indirect Object (Ditransitive Verbs)
Many verbs take an indirect and direct object. Consider a verb such as give, which has two patterns:

*My father gave me this ring.
*My father gave this ring to me.
We can make the direct object the subject of the passive sentence:

*This ring was given (to) me by my father. (with or without to)
Or we can make the indirect object the subject of the passive sentence:
*I was given this ring by my father.

TAKEN FROM: http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/rules/passive.html

PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE. THEORY & EXAMPLES.

2009-05-20T14:52:00.003-03:00

Present Perfect -Pretérito Perfecto

El pretérito perfecto se forma con el verbo have ("haber") y el participio pasado. Es otro modo de expresar el pasado.

He has studied English and French.Ha estudiado inglés y francés.
I have read many books.He leído muchos libros.

A menudo el participio pasado en inglés es exactamente el mismo que la forma pasada de un verbo. Sin embargo, muchos verbos tienen participios pasados irregulares.

She has forgotten her name. She has amnesia.
Ha olvidado su nombre. Tiene amnesia.
I have already drunk the coffee.Ya he bebido el café.
They have gone to see the President. Han ido a ver al Presidente.
She has come to see you.Ha venido a verte.

Cuando se usa have en el presente perfecto, se puede contraer con el pronombre que lo precede.

I've been to New York once before.He estado en Nueva York una vez.
He's gone to the fish market.Ha ido al mercado de pescados.
We've come to help.Hemos venido a ayudar.

La negación del pretérito perfecto se forma con not. Cuando está presente not, have puede contraerse con not pero no puede contraerse con el pronombre que lo precede.

She hasn't spoken to him.No ha hablado con él.
We've not spoken with her.

Para hacer una pregunta, se usa have al frente de la oración.

Have you seen Matthew?¿Has visto a Matthew?

Hay cierto grado de superposición entre el pretérito simple y el perfecto, pero sin embargo existen diferencias importantes entre ellos.
Cuando se precisa un tiempo pasado específico, debe usarse el pretérito simple (=simple past tense).

He finished three days ago.Terminó hace tres días.
They finished a long time ago.Terminaron hace mucho tiempo.

Cuando no se especifica el tiempo se usa el pretérito perfecto.

I have already finished.Ya he terminado.

El pretérito simple expresa más finalidad que el pretérito perfecto.

John has taught math for twenty years.John ha enseñado matermáticas durante veinte años.

John taught math for twenty years. John enseñó matemáticas durante veinte años.

En las oraciones anteriores,
-la primera oración deja abierta la posibilidad de que John continúa enseñando matemáticas.
- La segunda implica que John ya no enseña matemáticas. Tal vez se jubiló, cambió de profesión o falleció.

Steve and Carol have eaten at that restaurant twice. They really like it.Steve y Carol han comido en el restaurante dos veces. Realmente les gusta.
Steve and Carol ate at that restaurant twice. Steve y Carol comieron en el restaurante dos veces.

Si algo comenzó en el pasado y continúa hasta el momento de la enunciación, se usa el pretérito perfecto.

They have lived here for a long time.Han vivido ahí por mucho tiempo.
She has been in Australia for two years.Ha estado en Australia por dos años.
We have studied for 5 hours straight.Hemos estudiado durante 5 horas seguidas.
Tim has waited for 30 minutes.Tim ha esperado por 30 minutos.

Las siguientes oraciones implican que la actividad comenzó en el pasado y ya ha terminado.

They lived here for a long time.Vivieron aquí durante mucho tiempo.
Melissa waited for 30 minutes.Melisa esperó 30 minutos.

Cuando hay since ("desde") en la oración, siempre se usa el preférito perfecto.

We have lived here since June.Hemos vivido aquí desde junio.
She has been in China since last month.Está en China desde el mes pasado.

SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT?

2009-05-16T22:12:00.004-03:00

Fill in the blanks with either a past simple or a present perfect form of the verb.

Example: That actress is amazing! I really think she has become more beautiful with age. (become)
1. We ....................................tennis five times last week. (play)
2. I ..................................the new James Bond movie last week. (see)
3. We .................................the TV you are watching since 1974. (own)
4. My daughter..................................... on her own for six years now. (be)
5. I returned the shoes I bought at the mall because they........................... . (not fit)
6. My nephew .........................................in Germany since he was born. (live)
7. Since the weather was so nice I ..................................my bicycle to work yesterday. (ride)
8. Alligators, which are common in Florida, ..............................for tens of millions of years. (exist)
9. I .......................from my friend in over a year. I wonder what he is doing these days. (not hear)

10. I .....................................................this fish fresh today. It’ll taste great when we eat it. (catch)

DO SELF-CORRECTION HERE :
http://www.1-language.com/englishcoursenew/unit54_grammar_exs.htm

Elementary English for Beginners. Part 1.

2009-05-01T16:25:00.005-03:00

from :
http://esl.about.com/od/beginningenglish/Learning_English_for_Beginners_Beginning_ESL_EFL.htm

Learning English for Beginners - Beginning ESL EFL

English learning materials for beginning level English learning including grammar, listening, vocabulary, reading, writing, reference, quizzes and a free online course as well as free lesson plans for ESL EFL teachers.
How to Get Started (21)
Teaching Beginners (58)
Beginning Grammar (54)
Quizzes for Beginners (35)
Pronunciation - Speaking (36)
Beginning Reading Skills (26)
Vocabulary and Dialogues (45)
English Learning Products (2)
Beginning Listening (10) .

Learn English

Learn English at this site with resources including grammar explanations, vocabulary reference pages, quiz sheets, pronunciation help, and listening and reading comprehension strategies.

Study Skills for Beginners

This is a simple routine to use to make studying English every day a habit that you enjoy and will help you learn English quickly.

PRACTISE SOME COMMON PHRASAL VERBS.

2009-05-01T15:53:00.005-03:00

Have you --found out if you won the competition yet?
I need to --get away from work and take a holiday.
My daughter is a great cook, she really --takes after her mother.
Could you --hold on a moment while I see if Marek is in his office?
She promised to --cut down her cigarette smoking to six a day.
He spent the entire night thinking and in the end --came up with a brilliant idea.
Donata --looked after my cats while I was away on holiday.
We're not ready yet, we are going to have to --put off the meeting until next week.
I'm --looking for Simon's address. Do you know it?
Mary --turned up twenty minutes late for the party.
If you really want to lose weight, you need to --give up eating desserts.
Let's --go over the grammar one more time before the test.
I was --looking for an old t-shirt when I --came across this photograph of my high school class.
Look Magda, I've --put up with your bad behaviour long enough!
You don't think I believe that ridiculous story you --made up, do you?
I think you need to --take up a new hobby to help you relax.
Jacek and Gosia --broke up last week. They just weren't happy together.
We'd better stop soon. Otherwise, we'll --run out of petrol.
Unfortunately, I had to --tell off Bob because of his poor performance recently.
Our flight was delayed, but we finally --took off shortly after midnight.
Could you speak up, please? i find it hard to hear what you are saying!!!

Teenagers tend to look up to their favourite singers or actors.

ADAPTED FROM: http://www.world-english.org/phrasalverbs.htm

MORE TIPS ON LEARNING ENGLISH.

2009-04-17T14:32:00.002-03:00

***Motivation is half the Work.
“Boring!” Well, that’s definitely not the way it works.
Try to find a positive aspect to studying.
- Why not watch your favourite film in English and write down some useful words or phrases that you want to remember.
- You could also read the lyrics of Top 10 songs and try to understand what they are about.
- Or check out celebrity sites and learn more about famous actors, bands and other stars. This sure is good for your vocabulary and on top of that
– It’s lots of fun. Always look on the bright side of life.

***Study English every Day.
How many English words can I learn per day? 10 English words or phrases per day aren’t too many, are they? Just give it a try. You will find that you can learn them in next to no time.So why not take a little time each day (Monday to Friday) to learn 10 new words? Use the weekend to revise what you have learned during the past week(s). This way you’ll enrich your English vocabulary by 50 new words per week. (That’s 200 new English words after a month!)

***Targets.
Set small, achievable targets, e.g.:
- learn 10 new English words or phrases every day, Mondays to Fridays (repeat on Saturdays, relax on Sundays)
- unlearn one typical mistake before the next test (see our backlog analysis )
- study 15 minutes every day !!!!
- read the lyrics of an English song every week and try to understand its main content.
- read and try to understand one short English text every week.
Reaching your target step by step is much better than setting a huge target that you cannot achieve. Easy does it … and keeps your motivation up.

ADAPTED FROM : http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/learning

TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL,PLEASE.(FOR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS)

2009-04-17T14:26:00.004-03:00

CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-test-test-your-level.htm

Test your vocabulary - Try this test to know how good you are at English vocabulary. This test will give you a general idea about your language skills. Enjoy it!

Test your grammar - Try this test to know how good you are at English grammar. This test will give you a general idea about your language skills. Enjoy it!

Test your listening - Try this test to know how good you are at listening in English. This test will give you a general idea about your language skills. Enjoy it!

Test your reading - Try this test to know how good you are at reading in English. This test will give you a general idea about your language skills. Enjoy it!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TEACHER'S NOTE:
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS TEST SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR LEVEL IS AND ,ACCORDING TO RESULTS,REVISE,STUDY THOSE ASPECTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN LEARNT PROPERLY. YOU MUST BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN STRENGHTS AND WEAKNESSES FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT. GOOD LUCK IN THIS ONLINE TEST. PLEASE,WRITE DOWN YOUR SCORE FOR THE DIFFERENT SKILLS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING GRAMMAR.

2009-04-08T16:46:00.002-03:00

"What is grammar? Why should you study English grammar?

Grammar is the fundamental building blocks of a language.

As a student of English as a second or foreign language, it is important for you to have a thorough understanding of the English grammar system.
As children, we all learned to speak our native language before we learned the grammar. Learning a second language is different than learning our first or native language, though. Learning the grammar system of English, or any second language, will help you improve your second language abilities faster and more efficiently"

FROM: http://www.johnsesl.com/ Visit this site and find lots of practice!!

GOING TO - FUTURE FOR PLANS AND PREDICTIONS.

2008-11-16T06:11:00.006-02:00

Going to is used to show a future intention.
-I'm going to go on holiday next summer.
- We're going to start our own business.
Form.
Going to future sentences are made as follows:
Subject - verb "to be" - going to - infinitive verb.
Example: They are going to have dinner.
Usage
Going to is used for future plans (=premeditated intention;not a decision now)
-I'm going to see my friends this evening.
- He's going to write a book.
- What are you going to do next summer?
-Are they going to study chemical engineering?

Going to is also used to make a prediction based on present evidence.
-He's going to fall over! (I can see he's in danger now.)
- She's going to win. (I can see she's winning now.)*********************************************
Compare.
Will and going to are both used for predictions and sometimes there is little difference in meaning.
-It will be sunny this afternoon. (A general prediction;my personal opinion about the future)
- It's going to be sunny this afternoon. (because it's getting warmer now)

Do an exercise: http://www.1-language.com/englishcoursenew/unit30_grammar_exs.htm

ADAPTED FROM: http://www.1-language.com/englishcoursenew/unit30_grammar.htm

TIPS FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES.

2008-11-11T02:53:00.010-02:00

FROM: http://www.teach.bravehost.com/
Learning to communicate in another language may be challenging, but it is also a very rewarding and enriching experience. It is the best passport to discovering another culture. Here are a few tips we’ve put together to help you make the most of the experience.

Find out what kind of learner you are
Ask yourself, do I learn something better when I see it written down? Do I only need to hear something a few times before I know it? Do I like to learn grammar rules by heart? Are there other strategies that work well for me? If you recognize your strengths, you can use them to work more effectively.When learning a language, it is important to use a variety of strategies (using the book, listening to the recording, rehearsing dialogues, learning vocabulary, writing things down, listing verb forms, etc.) to practise the different skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Work out what your preferred learning style is and use it to your advantage.
Work at your own pace
Make the most of the time you have available to study. As a general rule, don’t try and do too much at once. You will often find you can learn more effectively if you study for half an hour or so at regular intervals, rather than try to do a whole unit in one sitting.With the best will in the world, there will be times when you don’t feel like studying. Try not to skip your session, though, and organize your work according to your mood. If you’re tired, choose less demanding tasks such as repeating activities; if you lack concentration, read a foreign magazine article about a subject which really interests you.
Why not learn with someone else?
It helps if you can learn with someone else. If you can persuade a friend or family member to study with you, it will give you extra impetus to keep working. Agree times to meet and set goals for the week, and test each other regularly.
Language learning is also about intuition
Guesswork is an important strategy in learning a new language and you will probably be pleasantly surprised at how often you’re right.When listening to recorded material, you aren’t expected to understand everything first time round. If you play the same piece several times, you will most probably understand something new each time. Learn to make maximum use of all the clues you can pick up. For example, what do the speakers sound like? Happy? Angry? Calm? etc.Also, in most European languages a lot of words have a common origin, which will help you build your knowledge more quickly. After a while you should also be able to identify common patterns between English and the language you’re learning, for example French equivalents of English words ending in –ly often end in –ment.
Speak, speak, speak!
Practise speaking as often as you can – even speaking to yourself is good practice.Try recording yourself whenever you can – especially when doing the pronunciation practice activities. When you listen to it afterwards, don’t worry if you sound hesitant or have made mistakes. It is important to evaluate your performance. Compare your pronunciation with the master version, see how you can do better and have another go. If you do this several times, you will find that each version is better than the last.Read aloud whenever possible: it will help you memorize vocabulary and structures. Going through the same dialogue several times is a good idea too.If possible, try and find someone who speaks the language you want to learn!
Build up your vocabulary
A wide vocabulary is the key to successful language learning but don’t try to learn too much at once. It’s best to study frequently, for short periods of time. Take a maximum of six or seven items of vocabulary and learn them. Put them into sentences to fix them in your mind, then come back to them later. Much of the vocabulary in the course is presented by topic. Learning vocabulary in this way is usually very effective.
Get the right tools
You may find you want a bilingual dictionary to help translate new words and expressions as you expand your vocabulary. When choosing a dictionary, make sure you pick one that gives you plenty of information on usage through illustrative examples, rather than one which only gives translations for each word with no guidance as to which ones to use in which contexts.Alternatively, you may find a vocabulary builder useful. These are usually arranged thematically and allow you to learn lists of words and expressions associated with a particular topic.
Get used to hearing everyday language at normal speed
Apart from listening to the course recordings, you could watch films with subtitles, listen to a foreign radio station (for example if you're learning English then your best choice is the BBC), or watch foreign language TV stations if you have satellite or cable TV. Even if you don’t understand much of what is being said, it is a good way of getting used to sounds and intonations. Choose programmes according to your own interests, you’ll learn much more effectively about subjects you’re keen on.International news is a good thing to listen to, particularly if you have already heard the news in English that day. Pictures will give you clues. You’ll find that you are picking up a lot of vocabulary by making use of the subtitles especially for expressions that occur regularly.
But most of all, have fun!

SUBJECT ,OBJECT, POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES.

2008-11-11T02:30:00.006-02:00

Here is a list and explanation showing the different types of pronouns:

Subject Pronouns
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they function as the subject of a sentence:

I live in New York.
Do you like playing tennis?
He doesn't want to come this evening.
She works in London.
It won't be easy.
We are studying pronouns at the moment.
You went to Paris last year, didn't you?
They bought a new car last month.

Object Pronouns
me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them serve as the object of a verb.

Give me the book.
He told you to come tonight.
She asked him to help.
They visited her when they came to New York.
She bought it at the store.
He picked us up at the airport.
The teacher asked you to finish your homework.
I invited them to a party.

Possessive Pronouns
mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs show that something belongs to someone. THE NOUN CAN'T FOLLOW THE POSSESSIVE PRONOUN!!!!!!!

That house is mine.
This is yours.
I'm sorry, that's his.
Those books are hers.
Those students are ours.
Look over there, those seats are yours.
Theirs will be green.

Possessive adjectives
my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their are often confused with possessive pronouns. The possessive adjective modifies the noun following it in order to show possession.

I'll get my books.
Is that your car over there?
That is his teacher, Mr Jones.
I want to go to her store.
Its color is red.
Can we bring our children?
You are welcome to invite your husbands.

Test your understanding with this short quiz.

VOCABULARY LEARNING FOR ENGLISH STUDENTS.

2008-10-30T03:19:00.003-02:00

from:http://www.englishgateway.com/

Words are the first priority in learning a second language. Make a grammar mistake – people may still understand you, choose a wrong word – the chances of misunderstandings are very high.

The tips listed below have proved useful in learning and retaining vocabulary better:

1. Be a good listener. Expose yourself to the places where you can hear the native speakers of English:

If you live in a country where English isn’t dominant – listen to the English TV and radio channels ( BBC IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), podcasts and audio exercises on the Internet, you may even go to the most popular landmarks/attractions in your city that are often visited by English speaking tourists.

If you live in a country where English is spoken as an official language, there are more options. Sign-up for classes of your interest (fitness clubs, soccer teams, dance lessons), get involved in your child’s school (attend parent-council meetings or go to field trips) or volunteer in your community where you can be side-by-side with English speaking people.

The best thing for learning English though is making friends with the native speakers of English or people who have a good command of English. As you enjoy the friendship, there’ll be a multitude of situations in which you can hear and use English!

Absorb what you hear and try to imitate what you’ve heard. Take notes – you’re sure to encounter new information. Look up the new words and expressions when you get a chance. Try to remember the situations in which the new vocabulary appeared – it will help you to retain it better. Your visual memory will help to associate the words with the situations you came across with in the past.

2. Pay attention to the words surrounding one another. Some words go together well while others don’t. Good matches are called collocations and they often determine to what extent your speech sounds natural. (make a mistake/an effort but do homework/laundry)

3. Recognize groups of words that jointly create one meaning. These are phrasal verbs (verbs and particles), consisting of two or more words, that make sense only if considered together (call off=cancel, figure out=solve).

Remember, that the particle doesn’t always come immediately after the verb – it may appear a number of words apart from the verb, making it challenging to process the speech right away.

4. Idioms, expressions in which words cannot be understood literally, are a tough nut to crack (are difficult to deal with).

Some can be understood from the context, but some cannot – and therefore learners who truly want to communicate the way the native speakers of English do – should devote time to learning those ‘tricky phrases’.

After all, they are the ‘juice’ of the language – they’re descriptive (on the dot: exactly), humorous (when the pigs fly: never), cultural (average Joe: ordinary person) and colorful (pitch dark: very dark).

Create plenty of English learning opportunities (in addition to the English classes that you may be taking), and see yourself advance quickly in identifying, understanding and actually using the phrases in conversation yourself, naturally.

FOR FURTHER PRACTICE. REGISTRATION IS FREE!

2008-10-28T14:56:00.011-02:00

http://www.shertonenglish.com/

Curso Sherton
El plan para aprender inglés en 52 semanas

Este calendario muestra el programa de estudio del curso. Está subdividido en 52 semanas que deberás ir completando para llevar un registro de tu progreso. El curso forma parte del Método Sherton y fue concebido de manera que lo puedas estudiar en forma autodidacta. Sin embargo, para lograr mejores resultados, te recomendamos que contactes un profesor asociado en tu ciudad para tomar clases particulares.

TIPS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH!!

2008-10-22T03:58:00.004-02:00

ALGUNAS VERDADES SOBRE CÓMO LOGRAR APRENDER INGLÉS.
http://elblogdelingles.blogspot.com/2005/12/unas-cuantas-verdades.html

HOW TO LEARN ENGLISH!
FROM: http://www.nkjo.pl/how_to_learn_english.htmSome tips which may help you to master the English Language!

TIPS AND IDEAS ON THE BEST WAYS TO LEARN ENGLISH FASTER.
http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english-how.htm

FIVE WAYS TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE NATURALLY:
http://www.roadtogrammar.com/dl/5ways.pdf

CONSEJOS PARA LEER EN INGLÉS.
http://elblogdelingles.blogspot.com/2007/08/consejos-para-leer-en-ingls.html

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES 1º TYPE

2008-10-10T02:00:00.005-03:00

Cuando deseas hablar acerca de una "posible" situación y sus resultados, debes utilizar una oración condicional.

IF + present simple + WILL / 'LL / WON'T + infinitive

Se utiliza esta alternativa de oración condicional para hablar acerca de un probable resultado futuro, es decir, que no es absolutamente seguro:

If I wear the green jacket, it'll go with my new shoes.

(Si uso la chaqueta verde, ésta hará juego con mis zapatos nuevos)

If you don't study, you won't pass the FCE exam.

(Si no estudias, no aprobarás el examen de First Certificate)
.......................................................................................................................................................................

En estas oraciones condicionales generalmente podemos utilizar unless (a menos que) en lugar de la estructura if... not (si... no). Observa:

Unless you study, you won't pass the exam. (A menos que estudies, no aprobarás el examen de First Certificate)
(= If you don't study, you won't pass the exam) (= Si no estudias, no aprobarás el examen)

Unless I wear clothes like theirs, my friends will think I'm a bit strange. (A menos que use el mismo tipo de ropa que ellos, mis amigos pensarán que soy algo raro/a)
(= If I don't wear clothes like theirs, my friends will think I'm a bit strange) (Si no uso el mismo tipo de ropa que ellos, mis compañeros pensarán que soy algo raro/a)

ENJOY READING AT .....

2008-10-10T01:39:00.007-03:00

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/

CHILDREN'S
FICTION
NON-FICTION
CRIME
HORROR
HUMOUR
SCIENCE FICTION
ROMANCE
HYPER FICTION

FOR INSTANCE BROWSE CRIME :

- all stories list by rating list by author list by date added list by length-

contemporary stories- classic stories- new titles- authors A-Z - all collections

list by rating list by author list by date added list by length

subgenres:- detective- sherlock holmes

1º C - D : SIMPLE PAST-THEORY AND PRACTICE.

2008-09-19T01:20:00.015-03:00

FROM : http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastsimple/menu.php

The past simple is used to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past.
We use it to talk about a specific point in time.

I saw her in the street yesterday - He came back last Thursday. - We didn't agree to the deal.

We can also use it to talk about a period of time.

We lived in Japan for five years. - She was in London from Monday to Thursday last week. - When he was living in New York, he went to all the bars and clubs he could.

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:
Yesterday - three weeks ago - last year - in 2002 - from March to June - for a long time - for 6 weeks - in the 1980s - in the last century - in the past

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*ALSO,READ AND SEE IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS JOKE:

The lawyer joke.
Note: Lawyers are very unpopular in the USA and there are many jokes about them.

A teacher, a politician , and a lawyer all died and went to heaven. St. Peter was in a bad mood because there were too many people in heaven and he wanted to make it more difficult to enter. When they got to the gate, St. Peter told them that they had to pass a test before they could to get into Heaven: they all had to answer one question. St Peter turned to the teacher and said, "What was the name of the ship that hit the iceberg and sank with all its passengers?" The teacher thought for a moment and then replied:" I think it was the Titanic".St. Peter let him through the gate. He didn't like politicians so he decided to ask a more difficult question,St. Peter turned to the politician, and asked"How many people died on the ship?" The politician was very lucky because he had read a book about the Titanic.He said "1228" This is correct so St. Peter let him through the gate. St. Peter turned to the Lawyer and asked "What were their names?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADAPTED FROM : http://esl.about.com/od/beginningenglish/ig/Basic-English/Past-Simple.htm
All subjects take the same conjugation of the verb.
-Regular verbs end in '-ed'. visit - visited / enjoy - enjoyed
-Irregular verbs have various forms and each verb needs to be learned. see - saw / think - thought
The past simple is used to express a finished past action which occurs at a specific moment in the past.
Examples
-She visited Iran last month.
-They didn't go to Tom's party last weekend.
-Where did you go on vacation last summer?

Positive Form
Subject + past form of verb + object(s) + time
Examples
They flew to Chicago last month.
Peter completed his course three weeks ago.

Negative Form
Subject + did + not + INFINITIVE+ object(s) + (time)
Examples
They didn't expect to see you at Christmas.
She didn't understand the question.

Question Form
(Wh?) + did + subject + INFINITIVE+ (object(s))+ (time)?
Examples
Where did you study French?
When did you arrive last week?

Test your understanding with this short quiz.http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgspast.htm

PHRASAL VERBS!!

2008-09-16T02:29:00.006-03:00

-put on (weight) ... ... gain (weight)
I try not to eat too much chocolate because I put on weight very easily.
-Account for - To explain
They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the money that had gone missing.
-Answer back - To reply rudely to someone in authority
Her mother was shocked when she started ANSWERING her BACK and refusing to help.
-Ask out - To invite someone for a date
He wanted to ASK her OUT but was too shy.
-Ask for - Request to have or be given
I ASKED FOR the menu.
-Be up to - Doing something naughty or wrong
What are those kids UP TO?
-Be taken aback - Be shocked or surprised
I WAS TAKEN ABACK when I saw him because he's lost all his hair.
-Be fed up - Be bored, upset or sick of something
I AM FED UP of his complaints.
-Calm down - Stop being angry or emotionally excited
When I lose my temper, it takes ages for me to CALM DOWN again.
-Do without - Manage without something
There's no sugar, so you'll have to DO WITHOUT.

PASSIVE VOICE EXERCISES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-28T02:48:00.003-03:00

FROM : http://www.english-4u.de/passive_ex6.htm

CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE ,COPY AND PASTE THE EXERCISE ON A WORD DOCUMENT,DO IT AND THEN GO BACK TO THAT PAGE AND CLICK ON THE "CHECK" BUTTON TO DO SELF CORRECTION.

1. Paul (send) to prison. Future tense
2. My brother (just beat) in the race. Present perfect
3. He (tell) to wait outside. Past tense
4. I (not pay) for the work. Past tense
5. Policemen (often ask) for the way. Present tense
6. They lawn (cut) once a week. Present tense
7. We (ask) by the police. Future tense
8. The towels (not use). Past tense
9. He (not sell) the jewels. Present perfect
10. They (teach) Frensh. Present tense
11. The fire brigade (phone) soon after the fire broke out. Past perfect
12. You (laugh) at if you talk such nonsense. Future tense
13. All the fruits (eat up) by the guests. Past tense
14. The letter (answer) tomorrow. Future tense
15. Stamps (sell) here. Present tense

THEORY: PASSIVE VOICE.READ AND STUDY!!

2008-06-01T00:18:00.005-03:00

http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar-guides/grammar-intermediate-2.php#passive%20overview

Passive Overview

Structure

We form the passive using the relevant tense of the verb to be, plus the past participle of the main verb.

So for the verb clean, we would have:

Present Simple
Present Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Future
Going To Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect Simple
Can
Should

The room is cleaned every day
It is being cleaned now
It was cleaned yesterday
It was being cleaned at six
It will be cleaned tomorrow
It is going to be cleaned tomorrow
It has been cleaned twice
It had been cleaned before
It can be cleaned easily
It should be cleaned daily

To form the question, we put the auxiliary verb first:

Is it being cleaned today?
Had it been cleaned before?
Should it be cleaned daily?

Use

Look at this sentence:

They will deliver the letter tomorrow.

"the letter" is the object of the sentence. "they" is the subject. We can make "the letter" the subject:

The letter will be delivered tomorrow.

And if we want, we can include the subject of the first sentence:

The letter will be delivered by them tomorrow.

So we use the passive to say what happens to the subject of a sentence.

The bridge was painted in 1999.
Military jets are usually flown by men.
The flight to Boston will be delayed because of striking ground crew.

And we use an active sentence to say what a subject does:

John Exmoor painted that bridge in 1999.
Air Force pilots, usually men, fly military jets.
Striking ground crew will delay the departure of the Boston flight.

Sometimes, active sentences sound unnatural because who does the action is not important or not known. The action itself is important.

Spanish is spoken in much of South America.

Edward Moore was killed at his farm late last night.

The same sentences rewritten using the passive would not be wrong, but the subject of these sentences would sound strange:

People speak Spanish in much of South America.

Someone killed Edward Moore at his farm late last night.

How to Improve your English via the Internet.

2008-04-16T15:51:00.006-03:00

Here are some tips to improving English both in how your learn and via the internet.

Remember that learning a language is a gradual process - it does not happen overnight.
Define your learning objectives clearly: What do you want to learn and why?
- Take this quiz to find out what kind of English learner you are.

Make learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2 hours once a week. - Take the English tip of the day newsletter to help you.
Choose your materials well. You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and listening materials - Beginners can use this starting English guide, intermediate to advanced learners can use this continue learning English guide.
Vary your learning routine. It is best to do different things each day to help keep the various relationships between each area active. In other words, don't just study grammar.
Find friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very encouraging. - Soziety can help you find friends to speak English over the inernet.
Choose listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in. Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus more effective.
Relate grammar to practical usage. Grammar by itself does not help you USE the language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it actively.
Move your mouth! Understanding something doesn't mean the muscles of your mouth can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It may seem strange, but it is very effective.
Be patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off!
Communicate! There is nothing like communicating in English and being successful. Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the world understand your email is fantastic!
Use the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.
Be patient with yourself.
Practice, practice, practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

taken from:
http://esl.about.com/od/speakingenglish/a/howinternet.htm

BEGINNING ENGLISH COURSE - UNIT 8: Review What You Have Learned, Ordering Food in a Restaurant.

2008-01-11T17:30:00.001-02:00

Beginner Review Review the beginner grammar by answering the questions then check your answers by clicking on the "Check" button. If you make a mistake you will be told and can click on the button to take you to the proper beginner review page!

Ordering Food in a Restaurant

I'd like a ham sandwich How to order food in a restaurant, including food vocabulary.

Ordering Food in a Restaurant What do the man and woman order at the restaurant? Do this listening comprehension to find out!

FROM: http://esl.about.com/library/courses/blcourses_beginner_unit8.htm

BEGINNING ENGLISH COURSE - Unit 7 - Future with Will, The Weather, Listening Comprehension Practice

2007-12-28T15:18:00.001-03:00

The Future with Will
*The Future with WillLearn the structure and use of the future with 'will'.

Talking about the Weather
*What will the weather be like?Using the future with will to predict the weather.
*It was rainy and cold.Learn weather vocabulary forms.

Listening Comprehension Practice

*Making a Dinner ReservationListen to a man making a dinner reservation and choose from the multiple choice answers the best answer to the questions.

*Listening: Making PlansListen to John, Sue and Mary deciding what to do this evening. Choose the correct answer from the multiple choice questions.

FROM: http://esl.about.com/library/courses/blcourses_beginner_unit7.

BEGINNING ENGLISH COURSE- UNIT 6 - Prepositions | Adverbs | Preposition Quizzes

2007-12-18T16:17:00.002-03:00

PREPOSITIONS.
in / at / on - prepositions of place
in / at / on - prepositions of place and movement
in / at / on - prepositions of time and date
ADVERBS.
Adverb Use
Preposition Quizzes
in / at / on - prepositions of place - quiz
Test your understanding of these prepositions to express the position of objects.
in / at / on - prepositions of place and movement - quiz
Test your understanding of these prepositions to express movement and position in a city or country.
in / at / on - prepositions of time and date - quiz
Test your understanding of these prepositions to express when something happens.

FROM: http://esl.about.com/library/courses/blcourses_beginner_unit6.htm

Beginning English Course - UNIT 5 - Past Forms, 'A' 'An' and 'The'

2007-12-13T18:17:00.002-03:00

What did you do last weekend?Learn the basics of the simple past including regular and irregular
Where were you yesterday?The simple past form of the verb "to be
"A, An, The"A, An, The - definite and indefinite articles in English - Beginning Guide to indefinite articles.
Listening Comprehension
Ordering Food in a RestaurantWhat do the man and woman order at the restaurant? Do this listening comprehension to find out!

from: http://esl.about.com/c/ec/2.htm

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING	ANIMALS	BANKING
BIOLOGY	BUSINESS BASICS	COMPUTERS
CLOTHES	DAILY LIFE	EDUCATION
FINANCE	FOOD	GRAMMAR
HAIR AND BEAUTY	HUMAN	LAW
MUSIC	NATURE	SPORT
STOCKS AND SHARES	TECHNOLOGY	TRADE

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH.

The Chinese New Year.

Urban Dictionary is the dictionary you wrote. Define your world. 6,361,330 DEFINITIONS SINCE 1999.

ABBA singing HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Interesting New Year quotations.

SPECIFIC VOCABULARY FROM THE TOPIC DICTIONARY-LDOCE.

Topic: ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Topic: ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Topic: BIOLOGY

Topic: CLOTHES

Topic: ANIMALS

Topic: FOOD

Topic: SPORT

Topic: COMPUTERS

Explore our topic dictionary

Check out this website to learn English.

Christmas in the United Kingdom

The Present Continuous Tense

http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentContinuous1A.html

When to use

Practice

Second conditional

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situation

I PASSED THE TEST!! TRY IT YOURSELF!!

CLICK ON THIS LINK AND TAKE THE TEST ONLINE AND CHECK YOUR LEVEL!! GOOD LUCK!!

Grammar Test Results

Correct Answers

Exam preparation/study tips both for written and oral exams!!!!!!

General memory tips and Vocabulary memory tips.

THE PLEASURE OF READING.

INFINITIVE VS GERUND.

GERUND VS INFINITIVE.

Five Ways to Improve Your English Reading Comprehension

SPEAKING ENGLISH:WARNING.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE.

Wordwebs phrasal verbs tool.

A SITE TO PRACTISE YOUR ENGLISH.

Past simple or present perfect?

Exam taking tips.

HOW TO STUDY ENGLISH EFFECTIVELY.

LISTENING AND READING FROM :BBC LEARNING ENGLISH.

LEARN English Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation

Words in the News

Keep your English up to date

The Teacher

Active and Passive Voice : THEORY AND EXAMPLES.

Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES.

PHRASAL VERBS

FREE ENGLISH TEST.

PRACTISE LISTENING: Podcast &Listening Downloads

Combining past simple and present perfect .

SIMPLE PRESENT:THEORY AND EXAMPLES.

SPEAK ENGLISH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PASSIVE VOICE :THE STORY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use Simple Present or Simple Past.

What is a relative clause?

PASSIVE VOICE.

PASSIVE VOICE IN PRESENT,PAST AND FUTURE TENSES.

PASSIVE AND ACTIVE EQUIVALENTS.

THE PASSIVE VOICE.

PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE. THEORY & EXAMPLES.

SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT?

Elementary English for Beginners. Part 1.

PRACTISE SOME COMMON PHRASAL VERBS.

MORE TIPS ON LEARNING ENGLISH.

TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL,PLEASE.(FOR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS)

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING GRAMMAR.

GOING TO - FUTURE FOR PLANS AND PREDICTIONS.

TIPS FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES.

SUBJECT ,OBJECT, POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES.

VOCABULARY LEARNING FOR ENGLISH STUDENTS.

FOR FURTHER PRACTICE. REGISTRATION IS FREE!

http://www.shertonenglish.com/

Curso ShertonEl plan para aprender inglés en 52 semanas

TIPS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH!!

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES 1º TYPE

ENJOY READING AT .....

1º C - D : SIMPLE PAST-THEORY AND PRACTICE.

PHRASAL VERBS!!

Curso Sherton
El plan para aprender inglés en 52 semanas