Sorry seems to be the hardest word...


English is tough stuff  

Listen to this tricky little poem..

Wood = would 

Could you imagine my wooder (adj) face?

RED is not HEAD 
HAT is not RAT
ROOF RENT 

Cheap Sheep Watch Wash  
Ninety nineteen 
Politician   Sheep Confidential
Colleague got

kink  thin  rink thing pin, win sin think pink kin sink drink wink.... 

there is something in your eyes ("z").
there is something in your rice ("S).

roof
rent
head
hoof 
roof

....   50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should Avoid



GO, GOES, GOING, GONE or WENT


Note: Never ever use went after has, have, had, is, will be, are or were



Gone always needs an auxiliary verb before it (has, have, had, is, am, are, was, were, be)

Correct: They have gone to the movies.
Correct: They are gone to the movies.
Correct: They went to the movies.
Correct: You could have gone with them.

1. A rare book will go  quickly at auction.
2. When the book has been sold the auctioneer says: ' going, going, gone  !'
3. The internet too, it goes  without saying, is a good source of information.
4. In the theatre the lights went  down and the curtain rose on an empty stage.
5. When the lights went  up at the end of the performance a great cheer came from the audience.
6. Close all doors when you leave. The same goes  for windows.
7. When I drink coffee in the evening I have problems going  to sleep.
8. How many times does 18 go  into 54 ? The answer is 3.
9. Children don't particularly like going  to museums.
10. The neighbourhood is very noisy, it was so quiet in days gone  by!




What does RATHER mean?




SOMEWHAT:

It´s rather warm today.
I was somewhat surprised to see you.I was rather surprised to see you.
I am feeling rather tired.


Intend: He did not call, rather he wrote a letter.
Prefer: I would rather eat pizza.
Noticeably: She is rather pretty.


Followed by THAN: sooner, earlier, on the contrary (aware of sentence)


She would rather study a the library than go to parties.
My parents would rather that I drive slowly.
I would rather that you...
The party was rather nice.
I rather regret that, but I cannot attend.
I am rather busy, in fact...
They walked rather slowly. (quite)
I has some rather bad news today (much)
We had rather wait a long time.
It was rather a surprise to find them in the house.
It cost me rather a lot of money.
Now that she saw him again, he was rather less interesting and a little older than she had remembered him.
Thanks to his efforts, or rather the efforts of his employees, they made  decent profit.
I realize that I have been rather stupid and selfish.







                                 






What have you been doing in recent years?



I recently returned from Ireland, where I had been working in an office and studying English. Before that, I had spent two years travelling in Brazil.



I had eaten dinner by the time Marie arrived home.
I had been eating dinner when Marie arrived home.

         - TALKING ABOUT THE PAST FROM A PAST PERSPECTIVE - 


Lucas arrived home at 8pm. He was hungy but I had already eaten dinner 
This morning he had gone shopping and when he realised that night I had eaten all the food, he was angry. 


  • We had paid the bill before receiving the notice.
  • The students had looked for the information on the Internet before writing the paper.
  • I had  a bad experience.
  • I had had an old car then I bought a new car.


Last year, I was talking to my friend about Faith no more.
had seen them in concert the previous summer.



  • now > at that time
  • yesterday > the day before / the previous day
  • today > that day
  • tomorrow > the next day / the following day
  • soon > soon after
  • five minutes ago > five minutes before
  • last summer > the previous summer / the summer before that
  • next summer > the next summer / the summer after that
  • before > before that

A: I first met you at Lou's wedding, I believe.
B: Actually, I think we had met once before that, but it was very briefly.









ING form is used after prepositions


The use of ING after prepositions.

After doing the shopping, we went home.
 = 
After we did the shopping, we went home. 

                                          


After discussing it with her, I've changed my mind.
Before leaving, you need to speak to Sarah.

Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do some work for charity

I am scared of swimming in this sea.

I am bored with meeting the same people day after day.
We always have breakfast before we going to work.
They had a showed, before playing football.
Without realising, I had won the competition.
After having shower, I waited for you.
The pills or tablets must be taken after getting up in the morning.
I manage it by working much longer than 40 hour weeks.
In spite of studying a lot, he did not pass the exams.
She insisted on calling her sister.
He told the joke without laughing.
They are afraid of losing the job.
She is angry about walking in the rain.
Karl is good/ bad at working in the bank.
He is clever at skiing / surfing.
These business men are interested about buying stock exchange
 / doing bidding exchange.
I am disappointed about seeing your bad behaviour.
They are excited about setting up their own store.
Anna is famous for singing traditional songs.
She is fed up with waking up late day after day.
I am fond of learning English.
I am fond of going on holidays...
We are glad about getting married.
My husband is not happy about finding out I don't have an intention to come back home soon.
Are you interested in writing poems?
Yes I am really interested about creating rehearsal to be exact.
I am keen on (interested) drawing.
I am proud of riding a snowboard.
We are sick of  sitting around like this.
He is sorry for eating in the lesson.
I am tired of waiting for you.
She is used to smoking.
I am worried about making mistakes.
What is the advantage of farming over hunting?
There is a chance of catching a cold these days.
There is a choice between flying to London Heathrow or Stansted.
He has difficulty in texting.
He is in doubt about buying the correct car for his family.



WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO?





ARRANGED to do - Present continuous
INTENDED about the future - Going to
PREDICT  or see as a future fact - Will



Ex1_

I have just done a degree in Drama and education, so I will  probably end up teaching drama in a secondary school, I suppose, but I am not going to apply for anything this year. Right now, I want to get away from education and do some travelling, probably to the West Indies. I have got family in Trinidad, so I am hoping to go there for a few months, and maybe find some kind of job there.


Ex2_

I have just finished a degree in Ancient History and I am about (very soon) to join the army for five years! I have applied and been accepted, and I am starting my training in September, assuming I  pass my medical.


Ex3_

I am just finishing my final exams in fashion, and It's been incredibly hard work. So first, I am having a holiday with my family back home. I am leaving in five days, I am so excited. After that I am planning to do a master's degree in Fashion. I have applied for a course, and I have been accepted if I get good grades in my exams, so I am hoping!

Ex4_

I am about to graduate in modern languages, Spanish and Russian and I have already been accepted for a job as a trainee manager with a international clothing company. I am due to start work at the beginning of September, so I am having a couple of months break over the summer. I am going to find a beach somewhere nice and hot for a couple of weeks in August, hopefully, and then after that I will start work. I am really looking forward to it.

Ex5_

My degree is in Business studies, but I am thinking of applying for a course in journalism, but I am not sure yet. It is a bit of  a change, but I think that's what I want to do.

Ex6_

I have just  finished a law degree, but I am definitely not going to be a lawyer. I have realised I hate the law. I have basically got no idea at all what I want to do. I suppose I will do some kind of temporary job for the next  few months and then see what happens. Hope that I get some ideas.

I'll probably not see you before  you go.
I probably won't see you before you go.

I am due to have a baby
When are  you due?


PRACTICE:

I am planning to study engineering (I will study engineering).
My sister is thinking of joining the army.
I am due to take my driving test next week.
Alex says he is not going to apply for a university.
I know, I wont get a job.
My boss is about to retire.
My son is starting a new job on Monday ( My son starts a  new job)

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

I have been working as a geography teacher in a big secondary school for about three years and  I was getting really fed up (tired). The kids were really badly behaved and rude, and it was really  hard to control them. Every day was really stressful and awful. I was working every evening marking  homework and preparing lessons and I just went to bed exhausted and really depressed every night. It just was not the right  job for me. Then one day I read in the newspaper that there are not enough plumbers in the country. Too many people are going to university and not enough people are training to be plumbers. And I said jokingly to my boy friend. I will be a plumber. I will earn more money and I won't have to  deal with those kids every day. And I will never have to worry about finding a  job.

And at first it was just a joke, but then I started  thinking about it seriously and well here I am, and so far I am really enjoying it. You have practical  problems to solve every day, which I like. You start work early, which I do not like I must say, but when you go home at four that's it, you can forget about it  until next day. No more nights lying awake worrying about it. I am the only woman on the course. My colleagues are call  male, but they are fine. They make a few jokes, mostly because I used to be a teacher,  but it's all very friendly. Sometimes you meet older people who think you can't do the job because you're woman, and that's a real pain, but compared to my classes at the school where I used to work it's really no problem at all.

I would like a job like this - I would not mind doing a job like this - I would not  want a job like  this...



Future clauses with if, when, etc...
When she qualifies as a plumber, she will earn a lot of money.
She will make herself ill unless she gets more rest.
I am sure She is going mad if does not find work soon.
When she has the baby, we will have to get  more staff to help us.
I will be fully qualified in about three years, unless I fail my exams.
I hope, I pass my exams if not I cannot qualify in three years.
We cannot both work full time until our youngest child starts school in about three years' time.
As soon as he finds a job again, I am going to change to working part-time.
I am hoping to redecorate a lot of the hotel before I have the baby.
They will have to sort out (solve) their financial problems before they have the baby.
I am sure, she will go back to work.
Things will not (won't) get easier for them  until the children are a bit older.
If she wants to go to ballet school, she will have to work very hard
She will probably have to do something else if she has children.


Conditional Clause and Main Clause

I will continue learning English until I become fluent.
If I will the lottery, I will buy a house.
If I wake up early, I will have more time to do my duties.
If I don't enjoy it, I'll try something else. I'm never going to go back to teaching though.





1. First conditional:If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
If I study hard, I will pass the exam.
2. Second conditional:If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
3. Third conditional:If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.
If I had studied hard, I would have pass in my exam.











Essay: It does, mass media influence in shaping people's ideas.



This kind of media has power and it is an important way to spread information around the world, on the grounds that, it is a real time, an effective way to keep communication with  (or of keeping in contact with...) different parts of the world at the same time. Has  an important impact in our lives.

In my point of view: TV, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS&MAGAZINES, however, being controlled by governments, which means, using manipulation for their benefit. Information which comes these channels should be confirmation of the real truth.

Look on the bright side, it could be a perfect tools to help people to be better in several aspects of life. sharing our discoveries in a balance way. I mean It is an amazing way to spread good ideas fast and to know how people are living around the world.

Internet, of course, is in the same pack, but I think it is  slightly different from other channels, perhaps, it has been made by people like me and you. Nowadays people have a powerful gun to share opinions and to join in groups, sometimes from far away parts of the world, with the same interest and to add strength in favour or against of varieties topics.

In fact, mass media has negative and positive aspects, and it depend who uses this tool and for what.


Quote by Steve Jobs: “Thinking outside the box"
Don't watch TV!


                                 Cuando hablan del espacio, pienso en el vacío que nos envuelve...

Revision Questions (Asking Questions)

To be, or not to be, that is the question


Have you ever...?
Have you been to a Karaoke bar?
Have you met an English or American person?
Have you slept all night on a beach?

How long have you...?
How long have you been in this class?
How long have you lived in this city?
How long have you known your best friend?

What are you doing...?
What are you doing this evening?
I am going for run. I am doing sport

What will you do if...?
What will you do if you make  up late tomorrow?
What will you do if there is not food in the fridge when you get home?
I will be hungry.)

What were you doing...?
What were you doing two hours ago?
What were you doing exactly a year ago?

How often do you...?
How often do you come to English class?
How often do you studying English class?


When was the last time you...?
When was the last time you had a really holiday?
When was the last time you bought a new CD?
When was the last time you did sport or exercise?
When was the last time you did you go to a wedding?


Would you like to...?
Would you like to go to Canada?
Would you like to know your future?


Which do you prefer...?Why?
Which do you prefer the summer or the winter?


What do you love or hate doing...?
What do you love or hate when you are at home?
What do you love when you go out?
What do you hate happen when you on holidays?


Do you think...?
Do you think cars should be banned in cities?
Do you think  smoking should be illegal?
Do you think all countries should use the same money?


Question word + be/modal/do/have + subject + verb ( without to)



WHERE...?
Where do you live?


WHAT...? (be, do, modal, have)
What  are you doing? 
What do you think about?
What are you looking for?


WHEN...?
When do you think you will start work?


HOW...?
How do you make the cake ?


WHY...?
Why cannot I drink ?



TO BE




The Present Perfect and Past Simple

PAST SIMPLE?
   COMPLETED ACTION
        ARE IN THE PAST
                                                            PRESENT PERFECT?
  WHEN DOES NOT MATTER
life experience, that is time is not finished


Marilyn Monroe was married three times.
  • ( She is dead)

My friend has been married three times.
  •  ( her/she life is not finished)





This is my house.

How long have you lived here?
(when doesn't matter)

I have lived here since 1970.
(since, experience of life)

He's (has) lived in London for two years and then went to Edinburgh.
(then = past simple) (for= during= present perfect)


Did you wear your hair long when you were at school?
(DID= past simple = when = at school)

Yes, my mother insisted on it.
(Must do = push  your make)

But when I left school I cut my hair and I have worn it short ever since.

Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays.
(He's died)

My brother has written several plays. He just has finished tragedy.

I Flew over Loch Wess last week.
Did you see the monster?

I haven't seen him for five years. I wonder where he is.

He' hasn't smoked for two years. He's trying to give it up.

Chopis composed some of his music in Mallorca.

When he did arrive?
He's arrived at 2am.

What are you going to do next summer?
I don't know. I have not decided yet.

Do you know where Sally is?
I saw her in the library about five minutes ago.
(Ago= past simple, always, no except)
Have you ever eaten snails?
Yes, I ate  them a  lot when I lived in France.
(Past simple, when exist, and this info is important)

You look a bit nervous. What's wrong?
I'm flying to London this afternoon and I've flown before.

Maria's English is excellent.
Yes, she has been to Britain several times and in 1990 she spent ten weeks in the USA.
(Present Perfect because is experience life and Past Simple because is a specific date//period)

It was my parents wedding anniversary last Saturday.
How long have they been  married?

What did you think of the film last night?
I enjoyed it a lot.

I have known Nicole for ages.
Where did you met her?

Did you speak to Ben yesterday?
No, I phoned three times but he has not in.

Have you seen  that play? (theatrical plays)
Yes, I have
Yes, I was there last night.

Have you wound the clock? (wind)
Yes, I wound it on Monday.

Have you ever eaten snails?
Yes, I ate some at Tom's party  last week.

Has she fed the dog? (feed)
Yes, she fed him before lunch .

Have they repaired the road?
Well, they only have repaired part of it so far (until now).

Have they done their homework?
Not,  they have not done it all.
Yes, they did it before they left school.




Have you found  the matches?
Not, I haven't found it, yet.

Have you made coffee?
I made some yesterday. You can use that.
(aaaa it is disgusting, lol)

Have you been there before?
Yes, I have been there several time. (a few days)


Have you seen him lately (recently)?
No, I have not seen him since Christmas.

Have you been to the opera  this weekend?
Yes, I went to Faust on Friday.

Has he missed him train?
Yes, he went it five minutes ago.


Have they been through Customs?
Yes, their luggage was examined at Dublin Airport.

Has she spoken to her?
Yes she spoken to her on Friday.

Have you spent all your money?
No, only I have spent half of it.
Yes, I haven't saved anything.

How much have you saved since Christmas?

Has his temperature gone down?
Yes, it was gone down last night.

Have you seen his garden?
No, haven`t seen it yet.
I saw the house on Monday.

Have you paid the bill?
Yes, I paid it while yo were away.

Have you ever flown a plane?
Yes, I flew when I was at university.

Has your dog ever bitten (bit) anyone?
Yes, he has bitten me twice.
Yes, he bitten a policeman last week.

Have you planted your peas?
Yes, I planted them on Tuesday.
No, I have not planted them yet.


Have you ever listened Ravel's bolero?
Have you ever been a sauna?
Have you ever read Asterix in Britain?
Have you ever played Evita?
Have you ever  been to London?
Have you ever eaten Indian food?
Have  you ever been skining?
have you ever done dive scuba?
Have you ever been roller coaster?


Where did  he go?
I did see where  he went.

Do you know that lady who has just leaf the shop?
Yes, that is Miss Downes. Is she costumer of yours?
Not exactly, She has been here several times but she has never bought anything.

I have lost my black gloves. You have seen anywhere?
No, I am afraid, I have not.
I worn them at the theatre last night.

Where did you find  this knife?
I found it in the garden.
Why did you leave it there?

I bought this in Grafton Street.
How much did you pay for it?
I paid 1 euro.

Where is Tom?
I have not seen him today, but he has told Mary that he had been in for dinner.

You have been here before?
Yes, I spent mu holidays here last year.
Did you have a good time?
No, it never stopped raining.

Mr. Diaz worked as a  cashier for twenty five years. Then retired and went to live in t he country.

He broke his leg in skiing accident last year.

We missed the bus. Now we will have to walk.

The actors arrived yesterday and started rehearsals (essay) early this morning.

It has been clod this year. I wonder when it is going to get warmer.

I met him last night.

The concert  begun at 2pm and lasted for two hours. Everyone enjoyed it  very much.

He went go out ten minutes ago.

Did you lock the door before you left the house?




Have you ever driven this car?

Yes, I have driven it once or twice.
Yes, I drove it when you were away



That's a nice watch you are wearing. Is it new?
No! I have had it for years. I got it for my birthday when I was 18.
(I have had is past perfect, It is a way to talk about the past from a past perspective)


___________________________________________________________
2. (past perfect)              1. (past simple)                      NOW


EX: 

Jonh arrived home at 7pm.
He was hungry but I had already eaten dinner.
This morning he had gone shopping.
When  he realised I had eaten all the food.


1.  PAST SIMPLE

   John arrived home
    He was hungry
    He realised

2. PAST PERFECT

He had gone shopping
I had eaten








HAVE YOU HAD A GOOD  TIME?
                                                       Did you have a good time?