Monday 29 March 2010

WORD FORMATION 1

Read the text below. Use the words on the right to form a word (a noun, adjective or adverb) that fits in the blank space in the same line. The first word is already done for you. Then check the correct answers.

Computers have had the ABILITY to play chess for many years now, ABLE

and their ____ in games against the best players in the world has PERFORM

Shown steady ____. However, it will be years before the designers IMPROVE

of computer games machines can beat their ____ challenge yet BIG

the ancient board game called Go. The playing area is _____larger CONSIDERABLE

than in chess, there are more pieces, and the ____of moves is COMBINE

almost ____. The game involves planning so many moves ahead END

that even the ____ calculations of the fastest modern computers IMPRESS

are ____ to deal with the many problems of the game. In a recent SUFFICIENT

____ for computer Go machines, the best machine beat all its COMPETE

computer rivals, but lost ____to three young schoolchildren, so HEAVY

there is obviously still a lot of work to do !!

FCE: Speaking Part 2.O

These five steps wil guide you to excell the Second part of the speaking. Read them and practice with the other Speaking Part 2 entries.

LINK:

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/OMFIRST2/TULSAN04/lesson16/page1.htm

Friday 26 March 2010

RELATIVE CLAUSES







PRACTICE
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses
http://users.telenet.be/oldlark2002/GRAMMAR/RELATIVE-PRONOUNS-1.htm
Non-Defining
Definig-Nondefining
Join Sentences

TRANSFORMATION 2

COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE SO THAT It HAS A SIMILAR MEANING TO THE FIRST SENTENCE, USING THE WORD GIVEN. DO NOT CHANGE THE WORD GIVEN. YOU MUST USE BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE WORDS, INCLUDING THE WORD GIVEN.

1.Don’t forget your coat as it’ll probably get cold later. LIKELY
Don’t forget your coat as it_____________________________________________later.

2.I think she’s about to end our relationship.POINT
I think she’s __________________________________________________up with me.

3. United will certainly win the league this year.LOSE
United _______________________________________________ the league this year.

4.I’m certain he didn’t use the car because his sister had the keys.USED
He _____________________________________ the car because his sister had the keys.

5. The fact that bus travel is so cheap compensates for the lack of comfort.MAKES
The low cost of travelling ________________________________ the lack of comfort.

6.Their relationship seems very good. GET
It looks as ____________________________________ very well with each other.

7.Have you thought of a name for your dog yet? COME
Have you _______________________________________ a name for your dog yet?

8.Give me a call immediately on arrival. AS
Give me a call _________________________________________________________.
9.This exercise is much easier than the last one. AS
This exercise is ___________________________________________ as the last one.

10.There are more boys than girls in our class.AS
There are _______________________________________ as boys in our class.

11.All the other beds in the room are more comfortable than this one.COMFORTABLE
This is the _____________________________________________ the room.

12.I drink more if I smoke less.THE
The less __________________________________________ I drink.

13.We live nearer to the job than Costas.FROM
Costas ________________________________________ the school than I do.

14.All the students did far better than me in the exam.MUCH
I ___________________________________________ all the students in the exam.

15.Paul earns more than me.AS
I do _________________________________________ James does.

16. I’ve never known anyone as clever as Hilary.PERSON
Hilary is __________________________________________ ever known.

17. Sailing is more expensive than biking.NOT
Sailing is__________________________________________biking.

18. Olivia finds watching TV more boring than reading.NOT
For Olivia, watching TV is __________________________________________ reading.



VERB " TO WISH "

The verb to wish+ SIMPLE PAST= when we want to talk about situations/states in the present that we are not happy about but cannot change:

• I wish I had more money (=but I haven't)
• He wishes he was hardworking (= but he's not)
• We wish we could come to your party (but we can't)

The verb to wish+ PAST PERFECT= When we want to talk about situations in the past that we are not happy about or actions that we regret:

• I wish I hadn't said that (= but I did)
• He wishes he hadn't bought the car (= but he did buy it.)
• I wish I had taken that job in Brighton (= but I didn't, so I'm stuck in Valencia)

WISH+ DIFFERENT SUBJECT+WOULD:

When we want to talk about ACTIONS (not states) we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them.That is, to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action:

• I wish he would stop smoking. (= I don't like it, I want him to change it)
• I wish you would go away. (= I don't want you here, I want you to take some action)
• I wish you wouldn't leave the window open when the heatin is on! (= I want you to change your habits.)

WATCH THESE VIDEOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOrY4VyZamU&feature=PlayList&p=CBA9443DDD2FF3E4&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL0LJ_1NjuE&feature=channel

PRACTICE

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-5529.php

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/wish/exercise1.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/wish/exercise2.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/wish/exercise3.swf

TRANSFORMATION 1

Use the word given to complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence. Use between two and five words altogether.

a) I had to brush my teeth because my parents said so. MADE
My parents ____________________________________ my teeth.

b) Paula’s brother is a musician and she goes to lots of concerts. WHOSE
Paula ______________________________ goes to lots of concerts.

c) The bus was very late and it was also full up. WHICH
The bus ________________________________ was also full up.

d) I first met my boyfriend on January 1st. WHEN
January 1st ________________________________ my boyfriend.

e) As a child, i wasn’t allowed to watch that programme. LET
As a child, my parents _____________________________ that programme.

f) I want to go to London one day. WHERE
London is a place _________________________________ one day.

g) Joe’s parents didn’t let him go to the cinema until he had tidied his room. MAKE
Joe’s parents _______________________ his room before he went to the cinema.

h) It wasn’t necessary to cut the grass. NEED
They ____________________________________________ cut the grass.

i) I couldn’t sleep because the traffic noise was very loud. SO
The traffic noise ___________________________________ I couldn’t sleep.

j)The chair was so uncomfortable that nobody wanted to sit in it. SUCH
It was _________________________________ nobody wanted to sit in it.

k) It was not a good idea to go home so early. SHOULD
We _____________________________________ home so early.

l) That was the best I’ve ever seen him play in this team. SO
I’ve never seen _____________________________________ in this team.

m) It’s possible that they had an accident on the way here. MIGHT
They ________________________________________ an accident on the way here.

Thursday 25 March 2010

WOULD RATHER /WOULD PREFER


You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:

• I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer living in the country.
Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:
  1. I prefer something to something else.

  2. I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.

  3. I prefer doing something to doing something else.
  • I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

  • I prefer driving to traveling by train.
  • but I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

  • Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
Would prefer (I'd prefer...)


We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):

• "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):


  • "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
  • I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
Would rather (I'd rather...)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to.
Compare:


  1. "Shall we go by train?" "I'd prefer to go by car."

  2. "I'd rather go by car. (not to go)

  3. "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."
The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)":


  1. I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.

  2. "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not."
Study the structure after would rather:


  • I'd rather do something than (do) something else.

  • I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

  • I'd rather you did something

When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did something":



  1. "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."

  2. "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know."

  3. "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"
In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.
Compare:

  1. I'd rather cook the dinner now.

  2. but I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")

The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...":


  1. I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.

  2. "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."

PRACTICE

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-49279.php
http://www.eoilangreo.net/herminio/online/0809-32.htm

Monday 22 March 2010

FCE: Speaking Part 1

  1. TOPIC: Your home town / village

    What is the name of your home town?
    Where is the town located?
    Is it near to the capital city or any major cities?
    Is your town well-known for something (for example, a building or a type of food)?
    What is the most interesting part of your town?
    Is it a large or small town?
    What is the population?
    Do you live in a city centre, a suburb, a town, a village,or in the countryside?
    What are the main industries?What kinds of jobs do people do in your town?
    Is it clean or polluted?Is it quiet or noisy?
    Are there many parks and other green areas?
    Do you like living there? Are there many things to do?

Sunday 21 March 2010

FCE: Speaking Part 2.5

Compare and contrast the photos and say how the people are feeling.






FCE: Speaking part 2.4

Compare and contrast the photographs saying why you think the people have chosen this type of job.


FCE: Speaking Part 2.3

I'm going to give each of you two different photographs and I'd like you to talk about them. , here are your two photographs.



Interlocutor: Now, I'd like each of you to talk on your own for about a minute.

Please let (Candidate B) see them.

(Candidate B), I'll give you your photographs in a minute.

(Candidate A), I'd like you to compare and contrast these photographs, and say why do people like these activities?.

Candidate B, your commnet should be brief but you do have time to give reasons for your feelings and opinions

HIGHLY RECOMENDED FOR FCE EXAM

Highly Recomended: click http://www.ukstudentlife.com/English/Exams/Oral.htm

Friday 19 March 2010

Make vs Do




Try these exercises online:

  1. http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/makedo2.htm
  2. http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-make-do.php
  3. http://eolf.univ-fcomte.fr/uploads/ressources/grammar/15_verbs/makedo/make_do.htm

Word Formation

FCE: Speaking part 2.1

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people who have done something special. Please let (Candidate A) have a look at them.








I'd like you to compare and contrast these photographs, and say which person you think has worked harder.

Remember, (Candidate B), you have only about a minute for this, so don't worry if I interrupt you. All right?

Candidate B (1 minute)...............................................................

Interlocutor: Thank you. [Retrieve photographs.]

(Candidate A), have you ever done something special?

Candidate A (20 seconds).......................................................

Interlocutor: Thank you.

FCE: Speaking part 2

Interlocutor: Now, I'd like each of you to talk on your own for about a minute.

I'm going to give each of you two different photographs and I'd like you to talk about them. (Candidate A), here are your two photographs. They show families spending time together.







Please let (Candidate B) see them.

(Candidate B), I'll give you your photographs in a minute.

(Candidate A), I'd like you to compare and contrast these photographs, and say how important you think it is for families to spend time together.

Remember, you have only about a minute for this, so don't worry if I interrupt you. All right?

Candidate A (1 minute).....................................................

Interlocutor: Thank you. [Retrieve photographs.]

(Candidate B), do you think family occasions are always enjoyable?

Candidate B (20 seconds).......................................................

Interlocutor: Thank you.

Sunday 14 March 2010

Home Schooling

Video on Homeschooling + fill in the gaps

Australia: WEbquest 3rd ESO