Thursday, August 31, 2017

Predicting the future with will

Future continuous and future perfect.

Future continuous and future perfect.



A/ 'I will be doing something' (future continuous) = I will be in the middle of doing something.
The football match begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.15. So during this time, for example at 8.30, Kevin will be watching the match.
Another example:

•  I'm going on holiday on Saturday. This time next week I'll be lying on a beach or swimming in the sea.

Compare will be (doing and will (do):

•  Don't phone me between 7 and 8. We'll be having dinner then.
•  Let's wait for Mary to arrive and then we'll have dinner.

Compare will be -ing with other continuous forms:

• At 10 o'clock yesterday, Sally was in her office. She was working, (past)
    It's 10 o'clock now. She is in her office. She is working, (present)
    At 10 o'clock tomorrow; she will be in her office. She will be working.
B/ We also use will be doing in a different way: to talk about complete actions in the future:
• A: If you see Sally, can you ask her to phone me?
   B: Sure. I'll be seeing her this evening, so I'll tell her then.
• What time will your friends be arriving tomorrow?

In these examples will be -ing is similar to the present continuous for the future.
You can use Will you be -ing...? To ask about somebody's plans, especially if you want
something or want them to do something. For example:      

• A: Will you be passing the post office when you're out?
   B: Probably. Why?
   A: I need some stamps. Could you get me some? 
• A: Will you be using your bicycle this evening? B: No. Do you want to borrow it?
C/ We use will have (done) (future perfect) to say that something will already be complete. Kevin's football match ends at 9.15. So after this time, for example at 9.30, the match will have finished. Some more examples:
• Sally always leaves for work at 8.30 in the morning, so she won't be at home at 9 o'clock. She'll have gone to work.
•  We're late. The film will already have started by the time we get to the cinema.

Compare will have (done) with other perfect forms:
•  Ted and Amy have been married for 24 years, (present perfect)
    Next year they will have been married for 25 years.
    When their first child was born, they had been married for three years. (past perfect)


Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Get or have something done

Causatives: Have and Get


We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else did for us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to happen, but didn't do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the other person to do it. For example, we can say:
  • I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).
If I paid someone to clean it, of course I can say:
  • A cleaner cleaned my house.
But, another way is to use a causative construction. So I can also say:
  • I had my house cleaned.
In a sense, using a causative verb is similar to using a passive. The important thing is that the house is now clean. We don't focus on who did the cleaning.

Have + object + past participle (have something done)

We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past participle'.
  • I had my car washed.
  • John will have his house painted.
Get + object + past participle (get something done)

We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as 'have', but is less formal.
  • The students get their essays checked.
  • I'll get my hair cut next week.
  • He got his washing machine fixed.


Would rather and would prefer

Rather and Prefer


Rather and Prefer are words used to show a choice from different options.

Rather/Prefer Structure

The structure of these sentences are the same except for one small difference: rather is followed by a base verb and prefer is followed by an infinitive.
Subject + Would + Rather + Base Verb
  • I would rather live in a warm country.
  • I would rather go to a different restaurant.
Subject + Would + Prefer + To + Verb
  • I would prefer to live in a warm country.
  • She would prefer to meet on Monday.
Not comes before the verb with both rather and prefer.
  • I would rather not go to work today.
  • I would prefer not to play a game.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Passive with prepositions

Present Continuous Passive


Forming Present Progressive Passive

Affirmative Form        Object + am / is / are + being + verb3
Question Form            Am / is / are + Object + being + verb3 ?


Something is being done by someone at the moment.

Active : The postman is delivering the mail.
Passive: The mail is being delivered by the postman.

Active : Harry Potter is measuring the room. 
Passive: The room is being measured by Harry Potter.

Active : The coach is congratulating the team at the moment.
Passive: The team is being congratulated by the coach.

Active : Are they opening the gifts now?
Passive: Are the gifts being opened by them ? (now)


Present Perfect Passive



Forming Present Perfect Passive


Affirmative Form            Object + have / has + been + verb3 (past participle)
Question Form                 Have / has + object + been + verb3 (past participle)


Something has been done by someone at sometime up to now.

Active : They have cleaned the clinic.
Passive: The clinic has been cleaned by them.

Active : Thomas has written many books.
Passive: Many books have been written by Thomas.

Active : Have the police caught the man?
Passive: Has the man been caught by the police?

Active : UPS has delivered the letters.
Passive: The letters have been delivered by UPS.













Noun phrases containing relative clauses


See the video about noun phrases



Relative Clauses


What are relative clauses?

relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a noun phrase.
Example:
The man who is smoking is the murderer
The noun the man is modified by the relative clause who is smoking.
Relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about.

How to use relative clauses

They are used to provide extra information. This information can either:
  • define something (defining clause),
    Example:
    The girl who is standing there is a world champion in karate.
  • or provide unnecessary, but interesting information (non-defining clause).
    Example:
    Michael Jackson, who was a famous singer, died of an overdose.

 Relative clauses can be introduced by:
  1. A relative pronoun: who, whom, which, that, whose.

    Example: "The man who is standing there is a famous writer."
  2. A relative adverb: where, why and when.

    Example: " The restaurant where I have dinner is nice."
  3. None of them.

    Example: "The man I met is extremely wealthy"

Relative Pronouns

who - subject or object pronoun for people
They caught the lady who killed her baby.
which - subject or object pronoun
I read the book which is on the table.I visited the town which you told me about.
which - referring to a whole sentence
They were unsuccessful which is disappointing.
whom - used for object pronoun for people, especially in non-restrictive relative clauses (in restrictive relative clauses use who)
The boy whom you told me about got the best grades in mathematics.

 that - subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in restrictive relative clauses (who or which are also possible)
I like the vase that is over there.

Exercise 1:  sentence using 'that' or 'who' and a relative clause
Exercise 2: use 'that' or no pronoun

Expectations

                               See the video  How to use "supposed to"





        BE SUPPOSED TO
It has three different meanings:
  • It is  supposed to =  it is said to...
I'm going to buy his book. It's suposed to be very good ( it is said to be very good)
Why hasn't the teacher come to school today? She 
is supposed to be ill (She is said to be ill)
  • Something that is supposed to happen= it is planned , arranged or expected. Often this is different from what really happens
The exam was supposed to start at 10.00 sharp but the teacher was late
I'
m supposed to give a conference in Berlin tomorrow but I think I'm going down with flu.
  • You are not supposed to do something= it is not allowed or advisable for you to do that
She is not supposed to speak Spanish in an English class.



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Past participles as adjetives


See the video about past participle  as adjetives


Participle Adjectives

ome participles (like 'bored' or 'boring') can be used as adjectives. These are used in a slightly different way from normal adjectives. We usually use the past participle (ending in -ed) to talk about how someone feels:
  • I was really bored during the flight (NOT: I was really boring during the flight).
  • She's interested in history (NOT: She's really interesting in history).
  • John's frightened of spiders (NOT: John's frightening of spiders).
We usually use the present participle (ending in -ing) to talk about the person, thing, or situation which has caused the feeling:
  • It was such a long, boring flight (so I was bored).
  • I read a really interesting book about history (so I was interested).
  • Many people find spiders frightening (so they're frightened when they see spiders).
Be careful! 'I'm boring' is very different from 'I'm bored'! 'I'm boring' means I cause other people to be bored. This is not good! Here are some examples of when one person causes a feeling in another person:
  • I was talking to such a boring guy at the party. He talked about himself for an hour!
  • She's a really interesting woman. She's lived all over the world and speaks five languages.
  • My maths teacher at school was really frightening! He was always shouting at the students.

These participle adjectives make their comparative by using 'more' (not -er) and their superlative by using 'most' (not -est):
  • I was more frightened of dogs than spiders when I was a child.
  • That book is more boring than this one.
  • I think Dr Smith's lesson was more interesting than Dr Brown's.
  • For 24 hours on the flight to Australia, I was the most bored I've ever been.
  • I think this is the most interesting talk we've heard today.
  • It was the most frightening film that he'd ever seen.


Exercise 1: past participle adjectives exercise
Exercise 2: participles used as adjectives 2
Exercise 3: participle adjectives

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Need + gerund , need + passive infinitive , keep + gerund



See the video about need + gerund


TO-infinitive or gerund: NEED



Need  can be followed by the active or passive to-infinitives to express active or passive meanings, respectively:


need to make a phone call.
Sometimes, people need to be told the truth.



But active gerunds after these verbs express passive meaning.
Your hair needs cutting. (It should be cut.)


Exercise 1: need +inf / need +ing


Thursday, August 17, 2017

Past continuous versus simple past





Video about past continuous versus simple past

Guide to Past Simple and Past Continuous


THE BASICS - PAST SIMPLE

There are two principal past tenses used to make general statements about the past: The past simple and the past continuous. The two tenses are quite different. Use the past simple to talk about an event which happened at some point in time in the past.
  • Tom flew to Chicago last week.
  • Peter visited his friends in Florida two months ago.

THE BASICS - PAST CONTINUOUS

The past continuous is usually used to refer to events happening at the same time that something important happened in the past.
  • They were doing their homework when she arrived.
  • Jack was studying while Dave was cooking dinner..
The past continuous is also used to express what was happening at a precise moment in the past.
  • I was attending a lecture at 2.30 yesterday afternoon.
  • Alice was reading a book at six yesterday evening.


Monday, August 14, 2017

Past perfect

Video about past perfect



The Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is most often used for the following:

For actions that happened before a past event

When we want to talk about an action that happened before a past event, we often use the past perfect. Look at these examples:
  • When I got home yesterday, my father had already cooked dinner.
  • I didn't want to go to the movies with my friends because I had seenthe film already.
  • My friend offered me an apple in class yesterday, but I wasn't hungry because I had just eaten lunch.
  • I arrived very late at the party. All my friends had already gonehome.
  • As soon as she had done her homework, she went to bed.
  • I was very tired as I hadn't slept well for several days.
  • Had you seen the film before?
Notice how often words like alreadyjustnever etc. are used with the past perfect.

In reported speech

The past perfect is common when we report people's words or thoughts .., as in the following examples:
  • John said that he had never eaten sushi before.
  • She told me that she had finished, but I knew she had not.
  • She wondered why he had been so unkind to her.
  • He told me he hadn't done his homework, but he was hoping to finish it on the bus.
  • I thought I had sent her a birthday card, but I was wrong.

In if (conditional) sentences

The past perfect tense is used in unreal or hypothetical stituations, as in the following sentences:


  • If I had known you were in Frankfurt, I would have called you. (but I didn't know you were here so I didn't call you!)
  • If I had had enough money, I would have bought you a better present. (but I didn't have enough money.)
  • I would have been very angy if you had laughed when I got the answer wrong. (but you didn't laugh, so I wasn't angry.)
  • She wouldn't have been able to finish, if you hadn't helped her. (but you did help her and she did finish.)
  • I wish I had studied for my exams. (but I didn't study - and I got bad grades!)
  • I would have been in big trouble if you hadn't helped me. (but you did help me so I stayed out of trouble..



























  • Wednesday, August 9, 2017

    Requests with modals, if clauses, and gerunds

    The Usage Of Would You Mind

    1st Usage: If + somebody + did + something 

    Note: When we talk about the Present or the Past, we use Past tense following the subject.

    Would you mind If I used your phone now?

    Would you mind If I borrowed your car tonight?


    2nd Usage: When we don't mention the subject we may just use Verb + ing

    Would you mind taking this book back for me?
    Would you mind sending that mail for me?

    3rd Usage: Somebody's + Verb + ing 

    Would you mind John's staying here with us?
    Would you mind My sister's coming with us to the picnic?





    Exercise 1: requests
    Exercise 2: modals of polite request
    Exercise 3: choice that best completes each sentence

    Unit 3 part II

    INDIRECT REQUESTS

    Indirect requests happen when a person asks another person to tell, order or ask something to a third person.

    Indirect requests are used when you want to:

    • Tell someone to do something

    • Tell someone some information

    • Ask someone to do something

    • Ask someone for some information (Yes or No)

    • Ask someone for some information (Open ended)



    1. Can/Could you (please) tell/ask + Tom + (that) + original statement

    Example: " Can you please tell Tom I'll be waiting for him at the movies?"

    ( You can also use "would" in indirect requests)


    2. Indirect requests and imperatives:

    Can/Could you tell/ask + Tom + (not) + infinitive

    Example: "Can you tell Tom not to use my laptop?"

    "Could you ask Tom to bring me my laptop?"


    3. Indirect requests and yes/no questions:

    Can/Could you ask + Tom + if/whether + SVO statement?

    Example "Could you ask Tom if /whether ir not he's coming to the party?"


    4. Indirect requests and Wh-questions:

    Can/Could you ask + Tom + wh-word + SVO statement?

    Example:"Can you ask Tom what is his new password?"



    Wednesday, August 2, 2017

    Gerund phrases

    See the video about gerund phrases


    What Is a Gerund Phrase?

    gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing. A gerund phrase includes the gerund, plus any modifiers and complements. Gerunds and gerund phrases always function as nouns. They can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition in a sentence.
    To determine whether a word or phrase is functioning as a gerund versus a present participle, try replacing it with the word something. If something works in the sentence, then the word or phrase is a gerund.

    Subject Examples:

    Climbing is not as easy as it looks.

    (Climbing is the gerund. It acts as a subject in the sentence.)
    Riding a roller coaster scares my little brother.
    (Riding is the gerund. Riding a roller coaster is the gerund phrase. It acts as a subject in the sentence.)
    Object of a Preposition Examples:

    Her interest in gardening developed over time.

    (Gardening is the gerund. It acts as an object of the preposition in in the sentence.)

    Scott’s attitude about studying for tests improved.
    (Studying is the gerund, and studying for tests is the gerund phrase. The gerund phrase acts as an object of the preposition about in the sentence.)