15 de agosto de 2013

Reported Speech

Indirect speech, also called reported speech or indirect discourse, is a means of expressing the content of statements, questions or other utterances, without quoting them explicitly as is done in direct speech. For example, He said "I'm coming" is direct speech, whereas He said he was coming is indirect speech. Indirect speech should not be confused with indirect speech acts.
In terms of grammar, indirect speech often makes use of certain syntactic structures such as content clauses ("that" clauses, such as (that) he was coming), and sometimes infinitive phrases. References to questions in indirect speech frequently take the form of interrogative content clauses, also called indirect questions (such as whether he was coming).
In indirect speech certain grammatical categories are changed relative to the words of the original sentence. For example, person may change as a result of a change of speaker or listener (as I changes to he in the example above). In some languages, including English, the tense of verbs is often changed – this is often called sequence of tenses. Some languages have a change of mood: Latin switches from indicative to the infinitive (for statements) or the subjunctive (for questions).
When written, indirect speech is not normally enclosed in quotation marks or any similar typographical devices for indicating that a direct quotation is being made. However such devices are sometimes used to indicate that the indirect speech is a faithful quotation of someone's words (with additional devices such as square brackets and ellipses to indicate deviations or omissions from those words), as in He informed us that "after dinner [he] would like to make an announcement".


NOTE: To change sentences into reported speech you have to dominate English verb tenses.


5 de agosto de 2013

Neither vs Either Grammar


Either/Neither

The English words either and neither can cause some problems for native and non-native speakers of English. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult.
 
Either... Or
Either... or is used to offer a choice between two possibilities:
Either Mike or Lisa will be there.
Either you leave me alone or I will call the police.
We should bring either coffee or tea.
You can either help us or go to your room.
Either can also be followed by (one) of + group of two:
Either of us could do it
Either one of us could do it
Either of you should know
Either one of you should know
Not... either... or denies both possibilities:
I don't think either Mike or Lisa will be there.
He doesn't speak either English or French.
Not... either is used after a negative statement.
I don't speak French.
You don't either.
He isn't ready to go.
We aren't either.
    
Neither... nor
Neither... nor is equivalent to not... either... or.
Neither Mike nor Lisa will be there.
He speaks neither English nor French.
We brought neither coffee nor tea.
I will neither help you nor go to my room.
Neither can also be followed by (one) of + group of two:
Neither of them is ready.
Neither one of them is ready.
Neither of us has any money.
Neither one of us has any money.
Neither is used like not... either.
I don't speak French.
Neither do I.
(informal): Me neither.
He isn't ready to go.
Neither are we.
 



The Bottom Line
Either means one, neither means none, and not either equals neither. Or goes with either and nor goes with neither

3 de agosto de 2013

Prefixes/Suffixes Exercises

PREFIXES and SUFFIXES

Task: Add a PREFIX and/or SUFFIX to the words below and put them in the correct sentence. In brackets you'll find some information on the parts of speech to use.
PROBABLE     COMMUNICATE     AGREE     CURIOUS     ANGER     HEALTH
     RESPONSIBLE     FAME     HELP     LIKE     CAREFUL     CONCLUDE
a) The lights are green, but nobody is moving. He is so  . (adjective)
b) Don't you know that saying " killed the cat?"  (noun)
c) I think you should drive more . You're scaring me. (adverb)
d) She is a very  TV star. (adjective)
e) They have different opinions on the subject. Their  will last forever. (noun with a negative meaning)
f) Brian is always late for work. He is so . (adjective with a negative meaning)
g) This Math problem is very difficult. Mary didn't come to any   .  (noun)
h) He can't see the banana peel. He will  slip and fall. (adverb)
i) You shouldn't eat so much junk food. It's very .   (adjective with a negative meaning)
j) Thanks for finding my cat. You're a very  young man.  (adjective)
k) My parents are always fighting. There is no  between them anymore.  (noun)
l) I really  my packed lunch. It doesn't smell so nice. (verb with a negative meaning)

Suffixes

art 2: suffixes

We have already seen how prefixes can change the meaning of a word. Let us now consider some suffixes, their usual meanings, and how they change the meanings of English words:


Suffixes
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
-ance
-ize
-able
-ly
-ence
-ate
-ible
-or
-fy
-less
-er
-en
-ic
-ist
-ify
-ical
-ish
-ive


Study these tables. Try and find additional examples using your dictionary:


1. Noun-forming suffixes:
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-ance
state
performance
-ence
quality of
independence
-er, -or
a person who
a thing which
programmer, operator, biographer
compiler, accumulator, processor, calculator
-ist, -yst
a person who
analyst, typist
-ian
pertaining to
electrician
-tion, -ation
the act of
compilation
-ness
condition of
readiness, cleanliness, happiness
-ion
action/state
conversion
-ing
activity
multiplexing
-ment
state, action
measurement, requirement
-ity
state, quality
electricity
-ism
condition/state
magnetism
-dom
domain/condition
freedom
-ship
condition/state
relationship, partnership


2. Verb-forming suffixes:
Suffix Meaning Examples
-ize/-ise
to make
computerize
-ate
automate, activate, calculate
-ify
simplify
-en
harden, widen, lengthen, shorten


3. Adverb-forming suffix:
Suffix Meaning Examples
-ly
in the manner of
electronically, logically, comparably, slowly, quickly, automatically, carefully


4. Adjective-forming suffixes:
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-al

having the quality of
computational, logical
-ar
circular, rectangular, cellular, regular
-ic
magnetic, automatic
-ical
electrical
-able

capable of being
comparable
-ble
divisible
-ous
like, full of
dangerous, insiduous, miraculous
-ful
characterized by
helpful, careful
-less without careless, meaningless
-ish
like
yellowish
-ed
having the quality of
computed, processed
-ive
interactive


5. Words ending in -ing
Note that words ending in -ing are formed from verbs. The -ing form may be used as a noun, part of a noun phrase, or part of a verb
  1. Programming is an interesting job (noun)
  2. Programming in C is interesting (part of a noun phrase)
  3. He is working as a programmer (part of a verb)

Prefixes

Let us now consider some prefixes, their usual meanings, and how they change the meanings of English words.
Part 1: prefixes

Prefixes:
Negative & positive
Size
Location
Time & order
Number
un-
semi-
inter-
pre-
mono-
non-
mini-
super-
ante-
bi-
in-
micro-
trans-
fore-
hex-
dis-
ex-
post-
oct-
re-
extra-
multi-
peri-


Study these tables. Try and find additional examples using your dictionary:


1. Negative and positive prefixes:
Prefix Meaning Examples
Negative:
un-
not
unmagnetized
in-
not
incomplete
im-
not
impossible
il-
not
illegal
ir-
not
irregular, irrelevant
non-
not connected with
non-programmable
mis-
bad, wrong
misdirect
mal-
bad, wrong
malfunction
dis-
opposite feeling
disagree
dis-
opposite action
disconnect
anti-
against
antiglare, antistatic
de-
reduce, reverse
demagnetize, decode
under-
too little
underestimate
Positive:
re-
do again
reorganize
over-
too much
overload


2. Prefixes of size:
Prefix Meaning Examples
semi-
half, partly
semiconductor
equi-
equal
equidistant
mini-
small
minicomputer
micro-
very small
microcomputer, microscopic
macro-
large, great
macroeconomics
mega-
large, great
megabyte


3. Prefixes of location:
Prefix Meaning Examples
inter-
between, among
interface, interactive
super-
over
supersonic
trans-
across
transmit, transfer
ex-
out
exclude, extrinsic
extra-
beyond
extraordinary
sub- under subschema, subtraction
infra- below infra-red
peri- around peripheral, periscope


4. Prefixes of time and order:
Prefix Meaning Examples
ante-
before
antecedent
pre-
before
prefix, preceding, precedent
prime-
first
primary, primitive
post-
after
postdated, post-natal
retro-
backward
retrograde, retroactive


5. Prefixes of numbers:
Prefix Meaning Examples
semi-
half
semicircle
mono-
one
monochromatic
bi-
two
binary
tri-
three
triangle
quad-
four
quadruple
penta- five pentagon
hex- six hexadecimal
sept(em)- seven September
oct- eight octal
dec- ten decimal
multi- many multiplexor, multicoloured
Back to top

6. Other prefixes:
Prefix Meaning Examples
pro-
before, in advance, forward
programme, progress, procreation
auto-
self
automatic
co-
together with
co-ordinate, co-operate
con-
together with
connect

Word formation Prefixes/Suffixes


An English word can be divided into three parts: a prefix, a stem, and a suffix. Pre- means 'before. A prefix, therefore, is what comes before the stem. Consider, as an example, the prefix de- (meaning 'reduce' or 'reverse') in a word like demagnetize (meaning 'to deprive of magnetism'). A suffix is what is attached to the end of the stem. Consider, as an example, the suffix -er (meaning 'someone who') in programmer ('a person who programmes').

 




Suffixes change the word from one part of speech to another. For example, -ly added to the adjective quick gives the adverb quickly. Prefixes, on the other hand, usually change the meaning of the word. For example, un- changes a word to the negative. unmagnetizable means 'not capable of being magnetized'.


Direct/Indirect Questions


















Listening Comprehension Exercise

1) According your music preferences, select one video.

 2) Listen to the music.

 3)Analyze the lyrics and describe which kind
of conditionals and how many examples are in the song.                    

 4)Write them on a piece of paper.

 5)Finally check your answers.

 Note:You can use lyrics to compare your answers at the end of the exercise not at the beggining If you do it at the beggining you will be cheating.





 





2 de agosto de 2013

English Conditionals

As is typical for many languages, full conditional sentences in English consist of a condition clause or protasis specifying a condition or hypothesis, and a consequence clause or apodosis specifying what follows from that condition. The condition clause is a dependent clause, most commonly headed by the conjunction if, while the consequence is contained in the main clause of the sentence. Either clause may appear first.
Different types of conditional sentences (depending largely on whether they refer to a past, present or future time frame) require the use of particular verb forms (tenses and moods) to express the condition and the consequence. In English language teaching the most common patterns are referred to as first conditional, second conditional and third conditional.

First Conditional:

 "First conditional" or "conditional I" refers to a pattern used in predictive conditional sentences, i.e. those that concern consequences of a possible future event.



If you make a mistake, someone will let you know
If he asks me, I will consider his proposal carefully.

Second Conditional:

"Second conditional" or "conditional II" refers to a pattern used to describe hypothetical, typically counterfactual situations. In the normal form of the second conditional, the condition clause is in the past tense and the consequence is expressed using the conditional construction with the auxiliary would.

If I (he, she, it) was/were rich, there would be plenty of money available for this project.
If I (he, she, it) was/were speaking, you would not be allowed to interrupt like that.

 
 
Structure: If+past perfect, would+have+past participle

"Third conditional" or "conditional III" is a pattern used to refer to hypothetical situations in a past time frame, generally counterfactual (or at least presented as counterfactual, or likely to be counterfactual). Here the condition clause is in the past perfect, and the consequence is expressed using the conditional perfect.