Grammar Unit First Conditional

• In conditional sentences there are two clauses, an if clause and a result clause. We use the first conditional when it is possible or likely that the situation in the if clause will happen in the future.

          If I pass the test, my parents will be happy.

          If it doesn´t rain, we´ll go for a walk.

• The if clause is formed with if + subject + present simple. The result clause is formed with subject + will + base form of the verb. There is a comma after the if clause.

          If he sees Martina, he´ll tell her about the party.

          If we have time, we´ll do some shopping at the supermarket.

          If you don´t start your homework soon, you won´t finish it tonight.

• We can change the order of the two clauses. In this case, there is no comma between the clauses.

          He´ll tell Martina about the party if he sees her.

          We´ll do some shopping at the supermarket if we have time.

WHEN AND IF

• If indicate a possible situation. If we use when instead of if, it indicates that we are sure that the situation is going to happen.

          If he sees Martina, he´ll tell her about the party.

          When he sees Martina, he´ll tell her about the party.

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 11

Grammar Unit Should/shouldn't

SHOULD/SHOULDN´T

• When we want to say that something is a good idea (or is not a good idea), we can use should or shouldn´t.

          I should work this evening

          The shouldn´t buy that computer

          Should we go home now?

• Should is another modal, like will and must. We use should/shouldn´t + base form of the verb, not to infinitive. The form of the verb is the same for all subjects and we don´t use any form of do in the negative.

          I should lose some weight

          I shouldn´t eat this chocolate

• Questions are formed with will + subject + base form of the verb. Again, we don´t use any form of do in questions or short answers.

          Should we wait for Lisa? Yes, we should / No, we shouldn´t

          Should I tell my parents? Yes, you should / No, you shouldn´t

WHAT´S IT LIKE?

• We use a form of the question What´s it like? If we want to hear a description or opinion of something/someone. The answer to this question will often contain adjectives.

          What´s she like? She´s an interesting person and she´s very intelligent

          What are your neighbours like? They´re OK. They´re polite but they´re not very friendly

• The question is formed with What + be + subject + like?

          The word like doesn´t change – it is quite different from the verb like.

          What´s the weather like today?

          What are those cakes like?

          Did you meet Helen´s cousins? What were they like?

• Remember that What´s it like? And How …? Have different meanings. We use How …? To ask about someone´s general state.

          What´s Tom like? He´s really nice.

          How´s Tom? He´s fine.

Drama: Phrasal verbs. Episode 10

Writing tips

1. Short Story

Hints:

• Narrative story also needs paragraphing. You can start your paragraphs with the expressions listed below.
• Use the variety of tenses.
• Try to keep the chronological order of events. It will help you avoid traps of sequencing.
• Short sentences create suspense, which makes your story more interesting. Do not make the plot of your story too complicated.
• You can incorporate short dialogues into your story.

Reported Speech and Passive Voice

Reported Speech

Use:

Use reported speech to talk about what another person said in the past.

Eve:        ‘I went to the party on Friday night’.

James:     ‘Eve said that she had gone to the party on Friday night’.

Form:

1) When reporting speech, the verb in the sentence may shift to a past tense.

am / is / are	changes to	was / were
“I am fine.”		She said that she was fine.
present simple	changes to	past simple
“I like it.”		He said he liked it.
present continuous	changes to	past continuous
“She’s sleeping.”		He said that she was sleeping.
will	changes to	would
“I’ll be there.”		You said that you’d be there.
can	changes to	could
“I can come to the meeting.”		You said that you could come to the meeting.
past simple	changes to	past perfect
“I did the shopping.”		Tom said that he had done the shopping.
present perfect	changes to	past perfect
“I’ve read that book.”		I told him that I’d read the book.
past continuous	changes to	past perfect continuous
“She was walking home alone.”		He said that she had been walking home alone.
present perfect continuous	changes to	past perfect continuous
“I’ve been working,”		I told him that I’d been working.

2) To report speech, use He / She / I said (that) ...

    You can also use He / She told me (that)...; I told him / her (that)...

3) Don’t use quotation marks (“) when reporting speech.

4) References to times in the past also may need to change when using reported speech, if that time is no longer the same.

this morning / week / month	→	that morning / week / month
yesterday	→	the previous day
last week / month	→	the previous week / month
ago	→	earlier / previously
tomorrow	→	the following day
next week / month	→	the following week / month

     

Passive Voice

Exercises on Passive

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

• the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
• the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
• the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive Level: lower intermediate

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Simple Present	Active:	Rita	writes	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	is written	by Rita.
Simple Past	Active:	Rita	wrote	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was written	by Rita.
Present Perfect	Active:	Rita	has written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	has been written	by Rita.
Future I	Active:	Rita	will write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will be written	by Rita.
Hilfsverben	Active:	Rita	can write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	can be written	by Rita.

   

Examples of Passive Level: upper intermediate

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Present Progressive					Active:	Rita	is writing	a letter.
	Passive:				A letter	is being written	by Rita.
Past Progressive	Active:	Rita			was writing	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	was being written		by Rita.
Past Perfect	Active:	Rita	had written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	had been written	by Rita.
Future II	Active:	Rita	will have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	will have been written	by Rita.
Conditional I	Active:	Rita	would write	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would be written	by Rita.
Conditional II	Active:	Rita	would have written	a letter.
	Passive:	A letter	would have been written	by Rita.

   

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Level: intermediate

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

	Subject	Verb	Object 1	Object 2
Active:   Passive:   Passive:	Rita   A letter     I	wrote   was written     was written	a letter     to me   a letter	to me   by Rita.     by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

UK slang for international students

By Sophie Cannon at Education UK, 27 January 2014

'Hiya mate, fancy a cuppa and a chin-wag?' 'I can't sorry pal, I'm skint. Gutted!'

When you first arrive in the UK for your studies, you might be mystified by some of the words and phrases local people use. Don't worry, this is completely normal and you will soon be fine!

People here often use slang – especially with friends. You might hear some regional dialect words too. A lot of these words are shared with other English-speaking countries, but many are unique to the British Isles, so even if you're a grade A student or a native speaker, you might still be baffled!

To help you cotton on (slang for 'understand'), here are some common words you may hear. It is best to avoid using slang with strangers, in the classroom, or in formal situations until you're confident with the language. People may think it impolite if you use slang inappropriately. With your friends, however, it can be great fun trying out new words. We hope you enjoy this guide.

Greetings, please and thank you

• Alright? = Hello. How are you?
• Hiya or Hey up = These informal greetings both mean Hello and are especially popular in the north of England
• What about ye? = This is popular in Northern Ireland and is another way of saying 'How are you?'
• Howay = Let's go or Come on. This is popular in the north east of England
• Ta = Thank you
• Cheers = This is usually said as a toast when you raise your glasses to celebrate, but it also means Thank you
• See you = Goodbye and see you soon

New Year’s resolutions

It's that time of year again. Everyone has eaten their weight in chocolate, presents have been given and copious amounts of time have been spent with loved ones. It's time to say goodbye to 2015 and give a big warm welcome to 2016!

Every year millions of people around the world look toward the New Year with a new sense of hope and  excitement. And with that comes the inevitable "New Year's resolution". Questions are coming in thick and fast, "what're you going to be doing this year?" "What is your New Year's resolution?" For the most of us, we probably have been too busy to think about that. And for the sceptics amongst us, the question will be answered with a "well, what's the point, nobody can stick to them anyway".

But that's not true. The fact is that you're simply doing it wrong. What people don't realise is that no matter how well intentioned the resolution, if it's not specific enough, then it simply won't stick.

Compre these two resolutions:

1. To learn English.
2. To do an English grammar exercise every day.

Which do you think is more attainable? The first open ended resolution? Or the second more specific resolution?

Your resolution needs to be something that you can achieve and something simple. If you choose to give up all sweet foods then, unless you're some sort of God, the chances are that sooner or later that sweet chocolate goodness is going to find its way to you. But if you choose to cut down on chocolate and eat for example only one chocolte bar a week, then it's more realistic.

So this year, yes, push yourselves! Think about something you've always wanted to do, something you can see yourself doing in 2016, whether that's improving your English, learning a new skill or playing a new sport! But make your resolution something specific, something you can measure and check your progress. Go ahead, challenge yourself! And then stick to it! Head into the New Year with a new energy and excitement and become the you that you want to be!