- Present-perfect passives with Veronica from Spain
- Subject-verb agreement 2 with Lee from South Korea
- Subject-verb agreement with Peng from China
- So and such with Vittorio from Switzerland
- Between and among with Chuan from South Korea
- Verb, object, to + infinitive with Ehsan from Iran
- Reported questions with Noelia from Spain
- Unless with Hengchun from China
- Let and allow with Husniye from Turkey
- Disagreements with auxiliaries with Beom from South Korea
- Agreements with auxiliaries with Onur from Turkey
- Should have with Silvia from Colombia
- The second conditional with Anna from South Korea
- For, to and so that with Selman from Turkey
- Indirect questions with Masa from Japan
- Reported speech with Dong Jun from South Korea
- Will & going to with Noppawan from Thailand
- Present perfect & past simple with Yasmina from Belgium
- Future plans with Sung Hyeon from South Korea
- Still, yet and already with Alessia from Italy
- The 'zero' article with Anastasiya from France
- Future predictions with 'going to' with Mehmet from Turkey
- Present perfect continuous with Gloria from Brazil
- Indefinite articles with Hanibal from Libya
- Pronunciation: 'ed' endings with Sebastian from Colombia
- For and since with Hye Jung from South Korea
- Definite articles with Diana from Colombia
- Articles introduction with Saleh from Saudi Arabia
- Zero conditional with Jelena from Serbia & Montenegro
- Questions with like with Lorenzo from Italy
- Present Continuous with Bilal from Syria
- Must / mustn't with Hanbing from China
- Have to / don't have to with Tomomi from Japan
- Present perfect with Fatima from Iran
- Time prepositions with Hiroko from Japan
- Used to / didn't use to with Mi Jung from Korea
- Continuous passives with Guy from Martinique
- Simple passives with Jin from South Korea
- Because / because of with Taka from Japan
- Have something done with Raffaella from Italy
- Need + verb-ing with Asae from Japan
- Uncountable nouns with Edward from France
- Past perfect pronunciation with Mika from Japan
- Wish + past perfect with Daewon from South Korea
- 'Regret + -ing verb' with Mariela from Peru
- -ed and -ing adjectives with Deniz from Turkey
- Question Tags - Pronunciation with Giovanni from Italy
- Question Tags - Form with Juliana from Colombia
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Grammar challenge BBC website
Grammar Challenge Topics
Grammar: between and among
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1723_gramchallenge46/
Between distinguishes two or more separate things – and is followed by countable or uncountable, single or plural nouns. Among means 'one of many', and usually goes with plural nouns.
between
among
Between distinguishes 2 or more separate things – and is followed by countable or
uncountable, single or plural nouns.
clause between noun (s) – referring to individual things
Is there a connection between unemployment and crime?
He shared the money equally between his 3 grandchildren
He shared the money equally between Jake and Mary
Among means 'one of many', and usually goes with plural nouns.
clause among plural nouns
Her exam results put her among the top 10% of students in her group
It's among the trees
It's difficult to live among strangers
Between and among
Do you know when to use between and when to use among? We challenge Chuan from South Korea to get it right by playing The Banana Game. But what is The Banana Game? Listen to find out!
Do you know when to use between and when to use among? We challenge Chuan from South Korea to get it right by playing The Banana Game. But what is The Banana Game? Listen to find out!
Between distinguishes two or more separate things – and is followed by countable or uncountable, single or plural nouns. Among means 'one of many', and usually goes with plural nouns.
between
| clause | between | noun(s) – referring to individual things |
| He shared the money equally | between | Jake and Mary |
among
| clause | among | plural nouns |
| Her exam results put her | among | the top 10% of students in her group |
Between distinguishes 2 or more separate things – and is followed by countable or
uncountable, single or plural nouns.
clause between noun (s) – referring to individual things
Is there a connection between unemployment and crime?
He shared the money equally between his 3 grandchildren
He shared the money equally between Jake and Mary
Among means 'one of many', and usually goes with plural nouns.
clause among plural nouns
Her exam results put her among the top 10% of students in her group
It's among the trees
It's difficult to live among strangers
Exercise 1: Gap-fill
Read the sentences and choose which is better - between or
among.
1. The printer is … between…. the computer and the
photocopier.
2. There are a few French speakers … among ….the students.
3. Sales of magazines … among …….book club members increased
slightly this year.
4. There was a similarity in sales of fiction books … between
……members and non-members.
5. Gina shared the cake … between…… herself, Flora, Yao and
Sarah.
6. Humaid shared the money … . among …..the whole class.
Exercise 2: Word
order
Choose the 5 words which complete each sentence:
1. All … . the children fought amongst themselves…..
2. This ice cream is to …be shared between Jack and …..
John.
3. Where is my phone? I can't find … it among all this stuff
….. on my desk.
4. Oh there it is! It's … hiding between the monitor and ….the modem.
5. Which shoes do you like? I can't …decide between the blue
and …. the brown.
6. …we can decide among ourselves …..and then tell the boss,
ok?
Think about a situation in your life when you were part of a
group – at school, with friends, at work or in a club or other organization.
Use between and among to tell us about some
of your experiences.
generally speaking, you can use 'between' for more than 2 things when they are identified indivdually. If you are talking about a group of things, where the individuals are not identified, 'among' is more common. So the sentence 'Gina shared the cake BETWEEN herself, Sarah, Hebin, and Catherine' is correct, and 'she shared it AMONG 4 people' is also correct!
generally speaking, you can use 'between' for more than 2 things when they are identified indivdually. If you are talking about a group of things, where the individuals are not identified, 'among' is more common. So the sentence 'Gina shared the cake BETWEEN herself, Sarah, Hebin, and Catherine' is correct, and 'she shared it AMONG 4 people' is also correct!
Le Vo Hue Quan, Viet nam
I'm learning in my university, and Nha is the best girl I have ever met among my friends. Another girl is Ngan, she loves me too, but between Nha and Ngan I choose Nha, because Nha is more beautiful, lovely, funny and she is always by my side whenever I'm down.
Catherine
I'm learning in my university, and Nha is the best girl I have ever met among my friends. Another girl is Ngan, she loves me too, but between Nha and Ngan I choose Nha, because Nha is more beautiful, lovely, funny and she is always by my side whenever I'm down.
Catherine
Arfa, Pakistan
It was our farewell party and I was the one amongst my group who decided that we should wear saris. We decided to compete on who, between me and Sara would have the best dress. When we arrived at the party hall, among the entire crowd we were the only ones wearing saris. Everyone was staring at us. All my friends said that it was my idea and a quarrel arose between me and my friends. Among all the parties I have ever been to, this was truly the worst one.
It was our farewell party and I was the one amongst my group who decided that we should wear saris. We decided to compete on who, between me and Sara would have the best dress. When we arrived at the party hall, among the entire crowd we were the only ones wearing saris. Everyone was staring at us. All my friends said that it was my idea and a quarrel arose between me and my friends. Among all the parties I have ever been to, this was truly the worst one.
Grammar: for and since
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/149_gramchallenge25/
FOR AND SINCE
FOR
We use for when we mention the length of time:
Some extra information about for
It is possible to leave out the word for in positive sentences. For example: "I've lived here for seven years." / "I've lived here seven years." Both are perfectly correct.
But in negative sentences we almost always use for.
"She hasn't seen him six months" is wrong. "She hasn't seen him for six months" is correct.
With expressions like all morning, all my life or all day, we never use for:
"He's lived there all his life," not "He's lived there for all his life."
SINCE
We use 'since' when we mention a point in time in the past when something started:
For and since
We use for and since to talk about how long something has been happening:
Example 1: for five years
Example 2: since they opened in building in 1987
Example 3: for six months
We use for when we mention a period of time. For example:
Examples
for a long time for a second for two minutes
for years for ages for three days
It is possible to leave out the word for. For example:
"I've lived here for seven years" is the same as saying "I've lived here seven years." Both
are perfectly correct.
But in negative sentences, we almost always use for:
"She hasn't seen him six months" is wrong. Instead we'd say "She hasn't seen him for six
months."
And with expressions like all morning, all my life or all day, we never use for:
"He's lived there all his life" not "He's lived there for all his life."
We use since when we mention a point in time in the past, when something began. For
example:
Examples
since 2003 since last January since 4 o'clock
since July since breakfast time since the war BBC Learning English
So, to recap. We use for and since to talk about how long something has been happening.
We use for with a period of time and we use since with a point in time.
Now is your chance to use this week's grammar!
What are some of the most important aspects of your life? What possessions are important to you? How long have you lived where you live? Tell us about how long you've been doing your jo
FOR AND SINCE
FOR
We use for when we mention the length of time:
| for |
| 24 hours. two days. three hundred years. a few years. |
Some extra information about for
It is possible to leave out the word for in positive sentences. For example: "I've lived here for seven years." / "I've lived here seven years." Both are perfectly correct.
But in negative sentences we almost always use for.
"She hasn't seen him six months" is wrong. "She hasn't seen him for six months" is correct.
With expressions like all morning, all my life or all day, we never use for:
"He's lived there all his life," not "He's lived there for all his life."
SINCE
We use 'since' when we mention a point in time in the past when something started:
| since |
| yesterday morning . 1707. I was at university. they moved to London. he left home. |
For and since
We use for and since to talk about how long something has been happening:
Example 1: for five years
Example 2: since they opened in building in 1987
Example 3: for six months
We use for when we mention a period of time. For example:
Examples
for a long time for a second for two minutes
for years for ages for three days
It is possible to leave out the word for. For example:
"I've lived here for seven years" is the same as saying "I've lived here seven years." Both
are perfectly correct.
But in negative sentences, we almost always use for:
"She hasn't seen him six months" is wrong. Instead we'd say "She hasn't seen him for six
months."
And with expressions like all morning, all my life or all day, we never use for:
"He's lived there all his life" not "He's lived there for all his life."
We use since when we mention a point in time in the past, when something began. For
example:
Examples
since 2003 since last January since 4 o'clock
since July since breakfast time since the war BBC Learning English
So, to recap. We use for and since to talk about how long something has been happening.
We use for with a period of time and we use since with a point in time.
For and since
Exercise 1:
Match the beginnings of the sentences to the most suitable
endings.
1. She's been a teacher for ……… three years at that school.
2. My grandparents have been married since……..1940 and
they're still really in love!
3. I've hated vegetables since I …….. was a child.
4. He's had that car for years…………. but it still looks new.
5. I haven't seen her since we ………… were at school together.
6. We've been living in Tokyo ……….. since the early 90s and
we still haven't learnt the language.
7. I've been waiting …….for you for hours!
8. I've known her since we were …………….. children together.
Exercise 2:
Penny is being interviewed for a job. Some of the words of
the questions and answers are
missing.
Interviewer: How long have you been working in sales?
Penny: (1) ___since_______ 2002.
Interviewer: And I see you've been working in London (2) ___for_______five
years. Is
that right?
Penny: Yes, I've been here (3) ___since_______ I graduated.
Interviewer: And what about other languages. Can you speak
any?
Penny: Well, my mother's Italian so I've been able to speak
Italian (4) ___since_______
I was a little girl. I learnt French at school so I've been
able to speak that
(5) ______for____ more than 10 years.
Interviewer: Now, I presume you're used to working with
computers?
Penny: Oh yes. I've worked with them (6) ____for______
years.
Interviewer: Now have you got any questions for me?
Penny: Yes. I was wondering how long you've worked here.
Interviewer: Well, I was one of the first people to work
here so I've been here (7)
___for_____a very long time. (8) ___since_______ 1982, in
fact.
Now is your chance to use this week's grammar!
What are some of the most important aspects of your life? What possessions are important to you? How long have you lived where you live? Tell us about how long you've been doing your jo
One of the most important aspects of my life is my health. I
have gone to the gym andgone hiking since I underwent an
operation on my stomach 3 years ago. I regard the diaries I
have kept since I was a little girl as precious. I have lived
where I live for 12 years and I have worked in a bank for
2 years.
My family, especially my husband (we have been married since
1985 and we're still in love), and my work are the most important
aspects of my life. The property and the job aren't so important for me but the
permit of working and staying in my country are important I've been living in
Kerman for 17 years, since my child was born. I am an
economist researcher and an activist for children's rights. I have been doing
it for 16 years.
I come from Taiwan and I have lived in Singapore since 2005.
I was a Buddhist monk for 15 years in Taiwan. When I was 30 I
left my temple, I went to study animation and film production in Australia for
7 years. Now, I have worked part-time designing websites since I
graduated. I have a lot of stories and ideas.
Grammar: unless
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1617_gramchallenge43/
Unless with a subject and verb means only if or except if in positive and negative sentences. The other part of the sentence gives the possible result.
Thank you for sending your comments. This topic has now closed.
Unless
We can use unless in place of except if and only if to talk about the conditions under which something can happen.
We can use unless in place of except if and only if to talk about the conditions under which something can happen.
Unless with a subject and verb means only if or except if in positive and negative sentences. The other part of the sentence gives the possible result.
| possible result | unless | subject and verb |
| I'm not going to dance | unless | you ask me. |
| I won't go by car | unless | it's a long way. |
| We can go to the park | unless | someone has a better idea. |
| unless | subject and verb | possible result |
| Unless | we're there by 8 o'clock | we won't get anything to eat. |
| Unless | Elena wants to take a taxi | we can go by bus. |
| Unless | you tell me who broke the cup | I will make you pay for it. |
Exercise 1:
Match the beginnings of the sentences to the correct
endings.
1.
You can't watch television in the UK… . …unless you have a licence.
2.
Don't
tell her what happened…. . …unless she asks you.
3.
You don't have to call me… . …unless you're
going to be late.
4.
We're
going for a picnic tomorrow… . …unless it rains.
5.
Children are not allowed into the cinema… .
…unless they are with an adult.
6.
You have to pay to enter the exhibition… …unless
you are over 65 years old.
7.
Michael's
quite shy. He doesn't talk to people… …unless they talk to him first
8.
I'm not buying that computer……unless they give
me a discount.
Exercise 2: Correct
or wrong?
Read the sentences and decide whether they are correct or
wrong, either in grammar or meaning.
1. I don't watch TV unless the news is on.
a. Correct
2. We can sit near the front unless you don't want to sit at
the back.
b. Wrong unless you want to sit at the back.
3. You will put on weight unless you eat fatty food.
b. Wrong You might put on weight if you eat fatty food'
is better
4. Unless you will wear a thick coat, you will get very
cold.
b. Wrong 'Unless you wear a thick coat…
5. Unless they are showing an action film, we could go to
the movies tomorrow afternoon.
a. Correct
6. You can borrow my car unless you ask me first.
b. Wrong You can’t borrow my car unless you ask me first'.
Imagine you are the
parent of a very lazy teenager, Chris. S/he won't help around the house, is
very untidy and messy, and isn't doing very well at school. S/he has lots of
plans for his or her free time, but you have decided that it is time for some
discipline! Read the dialogue below and see if you can continue it using unless.
We'll publish our five favourite entries.
We'll publish our five favourite entries.
|
Chris:
|
Can I go out tonight?
|
|
You:
|
Have you done your homework yet?
|
|
Chris:
|
...
|
|
You:
|
...
|
|
Chris:
|
...
|
|
You:
|
...
|
|
|
etc.
|
Thank you for sending your comments. This topic has now closed.
Yuan, Indonesia
Chris: Not Yet
I: You cannot go out tonight unless you do your homework.
Chris: But Mom, I promise to do it tomorrow morning.
I: You have to help me preparing the breakfast. So you cannot help me preparing the breakfast unless you do your homework tonight.
Chris: You're so cruel mom!
I: No.. I am a nice Mommy unless you're lazy
Chris: Not Yet
I: You cannot go out tonight unless you do your homework.
Chris: But Mom, I promise to do it tomorrow morning.
I: You have to help me preparing the breakfast. So you cannot help me preparing the breakfast unless you do your homework tonight.
Chris: You're so cruel mom!
I: No.. I am a nice Mommy unless you're lazy
Catherine says:
Hello Yuan, and thanks for your dialogue! I really like the last line - very funny and with perfect use of 'unless' - well done!
I'd like to mention verb patterns, Yuan. You wrote 'You have to help me preparing the breakfast' - a native speaker would probably say 'help me to prepare' or just 'help me prepare'.
Hello Yuan, and thanks for your dialogue! I really like the last line - very funny and with perfect use of 'unless' - well done!
I'd like to mention verb patterns, Yuan. You wrote 'You have to help me preparing the breakfast' - a native speaker would probably say 'help me to prepare' or just 'help me prepare'.
Alicia,
Argentina
Chris: not yet,and I wont do it unless you give me permission to go out tonight!!
Me: what!!??? Miss Untidy Girl! go to your bedroom and stay there until you finish your homework! unless you want to see me very angry.
Chris: I'm very angry!
Me: Look at me, you made me crazy little girl, go away unless you want me to take a very strong decision, you are not allowed to go to dance for the next two weekends
Chris: not yet,and I wont do it unless you give me permission to go out tonight!!
Me: what!!??? Miss Untidy Girl! go to your bedroom and stay there until you finish your homework! unless you want to see me very angry.
Chris: I'm very angry!
Me: Look at me, you made me crazy little girl, go away unless you want me to take a very strong decision, you are not allowed to go to dance for the next two weekends
'Unless you do your homework, you can't go out from your
room!'
'Unless I enrol, (NOT 'don't enroll') for the skateboard championship, I can't participate.'
'Unless you tidy your room, you can't (not 'don't) take the skateboard out the cabinet.'
'Unless I enrol, (NOT 'don't enroll') for the skateboard championship, I can't participate.'
'Unless you tidy your room, you can't (not 'don't) take the skateboard out the cabinet.'
Alexey,
Russia
C. Not yet.
Y. You cannot go out unless you do your homework.
C. I cannot do my homework unless I have something to eat.
Y. Unless you help me with housework we will not eat anything
C. OK
C. Not yet.
Y. You cannot go out unless you do your homework.
C. I cannot do my homework unless I have something to eat.
Y. Unless you help me with housework we will not eat anything
C. OK
Thursday, 14 March 2013
websites to improve English
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/
( Listen, grammar)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/grammar_challenge/
(Grammar)
Grammar so/such
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/177_gramchallenge11/
So... that and such... that are used to describe reasons and results.
So + adjective + that
| Subject & verb | so | adjective | that | (result) |
| The ice-cream was | so | good | that | I ordered a second bowl |
Such + adjective + noun + that
| Subject & verb | such | adjective + noun | that | (result) |
| It was | such | good coffee | that | I drank three cups |
| It's | such | a great restaurant | that | I'll definitely go again |
She works so hard that / she is such a hard worker
Exercise 1
The weather was so …. bad that we stayed at home all
It was such a cold day … that we couldn't go out at all.
The shoes were so cheap …that I bought 3 pairs
It was such an expensive dress … that I couldn't afford to buy it.
The exam was so difficult that … I only answered 3 questions.
It was such an easy exam that …I finished it an hour early.
The cake was so delicious that … I ate 3 pieces
It was such a horrible cake … I couldn't eat any of it.
Exercise 2:
Read the sentence and choose the one option a-d which best fits the space.
1. I ... that I fell asleep on the bus.
a. was such tired
b. was tired
c. was so tired
d. so tired
2. It was ... it broke down every few weeks.
a. such an old that
b. such an old car so
c. so an old car that
d. such an old car that
3. We were ... that we ate the food before it was properly cooked.
a. such hungry
b. so hungry
c. such hunger
d. so a hungry
4. He was ... that he hardly had any friends at all.
a. so shy
b. such a shy
c. such shy
d. shy so
5. They were ... that they were invited to parties every weekend.
a. so a popular couple
b. so popular couple
c. such popular
d. such a popular couple
6. The music was ... that I could hardly hear myself think.
a. so loudly
b. such loudly
c. such loud
d. so loud
Exercise 3: Word Order
Choose the 5 words which complete each sentence:
1. The ... team played so well that .... they won the match.
so that play team well such played
2. It was ... such a good film that .... I went to see it again.
good a that so such film boring
3. I felt so angry that ... I could hardly control myself.
angry so such I that felt angrily
4. She ... was a such hard worker ...... that she got a promotion.
a so worker hard work was such
5. He worked so hard that ... he got a pay rise.
such so that work he hard worked
6. We were so tired that ... we had to go home early.
we tired tiring were such so that
phobias
10% of people suffer from some kind of phobia (describe an extreme fear of a
particular thing or situation, especially when the fear doesn’t seem to have
any rational explanation).
claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces),
agoraphobia (fear of the outdoors and open
spaces)
arachnophobia (fear of spiders),
glossophobia (fear of public speaking)
batophobia (fear of heights).
bibliophobia (fear of books)
technophobia (fear of technology)
peladophobia (fear of bald people).
Ergophobia(afraid of work).
Phobias
Approximately 10% of people suffer from some kind of phobia, which is the word
used to describe an extreme fear of a particular thing or situation, especially when the
fear doesn’t seem to have any rational explanation.
The most common phobias include claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces),
agoraphobia (fear of the outdoors and open spaces), arachnophobia (fear of spiders),
glossophobia (fear of public speaking) and batophobia (fear of heights).
There are literally hundreds of recognised phobias, some of which might sound quite
bizarre: for example there is bibliophobia (fear of books), technophobia (fear of
technology), and even peladophobia (fear of bald people).
One of the strangest cases is that of the 35-year-old British woman Louise Arnold,
who finds that she has to avoid restaurants and the frozen-foods section of
supermarkets. Why? Because of her fear of … peas. Other people might see peas as a
small and unthreatening vegetable, but Mrs Arnold can’t stand being in the same
room as them.
Mrs Arnold’s phobia is due to be the subject of a British TV programme: she is going
to be filmed as she tries different types of therapy, including hypnosis and
acupuncture, in an attempt to cure her of her unusual fear.
However, some of Mrs Arnold’s friends appear to see a funny side to her condition:
they bought her a T-shirt with the message ‘Give Peas a Chance’ on the front.
Mrs Arnold’s friends aren’t alone in making jokes about the subject of unusual
phobias. For example, when someone is seen as being lazy, you’ve probably heard
people suggest that he or she is ‘afraid of work’. Well, as you might have guessed by
now, that’s a condition that really does exist – it’s called ergophobia.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
International women's day
On 7th of March, we had a special duty, we had to take pictures of women because of the international women's day. We spent some time taking pictures of Morley College's women.
People was really kind with us and we got a lot of pictures for our mural.
I am really happy with the result.
Monday, 4 March 2013
idioms and collocations
Personality
- idioms and collocation
Heart
of gold - to be very kind and generous
She has a heart of gold.
Easy-going
- relaxed and not easily upset or
worried
an easy-going attitude/manner
a friendly, easy-going type of guy
Hard as nails - not feeling or showing any emotions such as sympathy, fear or worry
Pain
in the neck - someone or something that is
very annoying
That child is a real pain in the neck.
Keep
your head - to stay calm despite great
difficulties
She kept her head under pressure and went on to win the race.
Bad-tempered
- describes a person who becomes
angry and annoyed easily
She's very bad-tempered in the mornings!
Illness
and treatment – collocation
Catch
a cold - to contract a cold (a common respiratory
infection.) (Use with catch is
more frequent.)
Please close the window, or we'll all
catch cold. I take cold every year at this time.
Allergic
to cats
High
blood pressure - a medical condition in which the force of
the blood against the walls of the arteries as the blood travels through them
is greater than is considered healthy
Twist
your ankle- is a common medical condition where one or more
of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn.
Food
poisoning - an illness usually caused by
eating food that contains harmful bacteria
Heart
attack - a serious medical condition in
which the heart does not get enough blood, causing great pain and often leading
to death
John had a heart attack three years ago.
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