London Time
A summary of verb tenses.
This lesson is a summary of all 12 English tenses. There are diagrams and examples to give a brief summary of the logic of each tense and how it is used. English tenses.
A bit of this and that.
A good site for revising: prepositions, articles, grammar...The Grammar Aquarium
Three word expressions
Here are ten common English expressions, along with an explanation and example sentence.
Black and white
Dos and don'ts
Haves and have nots
Ins and outs
Kiss and tell
Odds and ends
P's and Q's
Pros and cons
Rights and wrongs
Tried and tested
black and white = something which is extremely clear: "He told her in black and white that she couldn't leave the house while he was out."
dos and don'ts = the rules: "There are various do's and don'ts about driving in the UK."
haves and have nots = people who are rich and those who are not: "In London you can find the haves and have nots of the population."
ins and outs = the details: "I don't know the ins and outs of the situation, so I can't really advise you."
kiss and tell = when someone sells a story of themselves and a famous person: "The British tabloids are famous for publishing kiss and tell stories."
odds and ends = small pieces of various items: "She made a stew with the odds and ends she found in the fridge."
P's and Q's = manners (such as please and thank you): "Mind your P's and Q's when you visit them!"
pros and cons = advantages and disadvantages: "There are a few pros and cons that we should consider before buying a new house."
rights and wrongs = all the good points and bad points of a situation: "Regardless of the rights and wrongs of company policy, you need to give a month's notice."
tried and tested = something which has been well tested: "Using salt is a tried and tested way of getting red wine out of a carpet."
Here are ten more expressions:
Ups and downs
Come and go
Back and forth
Dribs and drabs
Said and done
Cat and mouse
Trial and error
Flesh and blood
Down and out
By and large
ups and downs = very good times and very bad times: "They have a lot of ups and downs in their relationship."
come and go = use somewhere as your base: "Feel free to come and go as you please!"
back and forth = not to stay still, but to keep travelling between two places: "I'm so glad I'm moving. I was getting sick of going back and forth every day. Now my journey to work will be a lot quicker."
dribs and drabs = not a steady amount of something: "The marathon runners finished in dribs and drabs."
said and done = to have the final word on something: "When it's all said and done, the new reception area is going to be a credit to the company."
cat and mouse = doing something in the same way that a cat plays with a mouse: "The guerillas played a cat and mouse game with the much better-equipped army."
trial and error = to do something new by making experiments and occasionally failing: "The new computer system has been installed. But it's a bit trial and error at the moment – nobody really knows how to use it."
flesh and blood = your family: "I have to help him if I can – he's my flesh and blood."
down and out = someone who has no money at all who has to live on the street: "There are too many young down and outs in London."
by and large = generally: "By and large, our customers prefer good service to low prices."
And a further ten expressions:
Up and running = in operation: "The new company is now up and running."
Noughts and crosses = a game where you take it in turns to put your symbol (either a nought or a cross) into one of nine spaces. The idea is to have a row of either three noughts or three crosses, but your opponent tries to block you. The game looks like this:
O X O
X O X
X O X
Bring and buy = a fair where people try to raise money for a cause by bringing something that other people might want to buy: "I'm making a cake for the school's bring and buy next week."
Hide and seek = a children's game where one child hides and the others try to find him / her: "Someone's been playing hide and seek with the TV remote control again!"
Around and about = a vague phrase to avoid saying where you have been exactly: "Where have you been – I've been worried!"
"Oh, around and about, you know."
To and fro = another way of saying "back and forth": "I'm exhausted – I've been going to and fro all week!"
Over and out = something you say to show you have come to the end of your message: "The last thing they heard from the pilot was 'over and out'."
Done and dusted = properly finished: "Well, that's this project done and dusted. We need a holiday now."
Dead and buried = something that will not happen: "That idea is now dead and buried – the Executive Committee decided some time ago to go with another proposal."
Wine and dine = to entertain someone lavishly: "He's well-known for wining and dining his business partners."
Bread and butter = your main source of income, or the most important issue: "Health and education are the bread and butter issues facing the UK government."
Spick and span = very tidy and clean: "Her house is spick and span at all times."
Wheel and deal = to make deals when buying and selling things: "If you need a new car, try speaking to John. He's a bit of a wheeler and dealer!"
Writing Narrative Paragraphs
Narrative paragraphs are often used to describe what a person does over a period of time. Read this example narrative paragraph, notice how words like 'later' are used to connect what happens.
Yesterday evening I got home from work at 6 o'clock. My wife had prepared dinner which we ate immediately. After I had cleaned up the kitchen, we watched TV for about an hour. Then we got ready to go out with some friends. Our friends arrived at about 9 o'clock and we chatted for a while. Later we decided to visit a jazz club and listen to some music. We really enjoyed ourselves and stayed late. We finally left at one o'clock in the morning.
PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
PLAY WITH PREFIXES.
READERS FOR 2ND BACH.
Remember: you choose one of the books for this 1st term.
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VISIT THE OLYMPIC PARK
FLY-THROUGH
Would you like to visit London's Olympic Park? There's no need to get on a plane. Watch this and take a video tour.
Would you like to visit London's Olympic Park? There's no need to get on a plane. Watch this and take a video tour.
Hens sort out the pecking order
TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER: A lot of pluck perhaps, but there's not much urgency here. The annual World Hen Racing Championships hoped to rival human sport - but for these chicks, racing is for the birds.
MIKE GIBSON, HEN OWNER: "Well the UK is doing well in the Olympics, so why not the chicken?"
REPORTER: Rules are sparse: no dogs, no pecking and winners were almost as scarce as hen's teeth. In fact, organizer John Barry said performance was downright fowl.
JOHN BARRY, ORGANIZER: "I've been here for twenty years now running the hen racing, since 1992, and I can definitely say apart from the final, that is definitely the worst set of hens I have ever seen in my life, shocking, absolutely shocking, the owners need to go back and have another word with themselves!"
REPORTER: And despite many ruffled feathers, there was eventually a winner.
REPORTER: A lot of pluck perhaps, but there's not much urgency here. The annual World Hen Racing Championships hoped to rival human sport - but for these chicks, racing is for the birds.
MIKE GIBSON, HEN OWNER: "Well the UK is doing well in the Olympics, so why not the chicken?"
REPORTER: Rules are sparse: no dogs, no pecking and winners were almost as scarce as hen's teeth. In fact, organizer John Barry said performance was downright fowl.
JOHN BARRY, ORGANIZER: "I've been here for twenty years now running the hen racing, since 1992, and I can definitely say apart from the final, that is definitely the worst set of hens I have ever seen in my life, shocking, absolutely shocking, the owners need to go back and have another word with themselves!"
REPORTER: And despite many ruffled feathers, there was eventually a winner.
VOCABULARY
How many hen-related puns did you spot? Here's a list:
1. Pecking order is the colloquial term for a hierarchical system of social organization in chickens (if a bird pecks at something it moves its beak forward quickly and bites at it). The term pecking order is also used to describe the relative status or power of people within a group.
2. Pluck is another word for courage, and if you pluck a chicken, you pull out its feathers to prepare it for cooking.
3. If you say that something is for the birds, you think that it is worthless or ridiculous.
4. If something is as scarce as hen's teeth, it is very difficult or impossible to find. • It was the President's inauguration and hotel rooms in Washington were as scarce as hen's teeth.
5. Fowl is another word for bird, especially one that can be eaten as food such as a duck or a chicken. It's homophone foul means unpleasant or disgusting.
6. If a bird ruffles its feathers, it makes them stand out on its body, for example when cleaning itself or when it is frightened. The figurative expression to ruffle someone's feathers means to cause them to become very angry, nervous or upset. • His direct, often abrasive approach will doubtless ruffle a few feathers.
How many hen-related puns did you spot? Here's a list:
1. Pecking order is the colloquial term for a hierarchical system of social organization in chickens (if a bird pecks at something it moves its beak forward quickly and bites at it). The term pecking order is also used to describe the relative status or power of people within a group.
2. Pluck is another word for courage, and if you pluck a chicken, you pull out its feathers to prepare it for cooking.
3. If you say that something is for the birds, you think that it is worthless or ridiculous.
4. If something is as scarce as hen's teeth, it is very difficult or impossible to find. • It was the President's inauguration and hotel rooms in Washington were as scarce as hen's teeth.
5. Fowl is another word for bird, especially one that can be eaten as food such as a duck or a chicken. It's homophone foul means unpleasant or disgusting.
6. If a bird ruffles its feathers, it makes them stand out on its body, for example when cleaning itself or when it is frightened. The figurative expression to ruffle someone's feathers means to cause them to become very angry, nervous or upset. • His direct, often abrasive approach will doubtless ruffle a few feathers.
From The English Blog
Just in case you like these late teenagers?
Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and "The Twilight Saga" continued their runs as teenage fan favorites, sweeping in numerous awards at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards on Sunday evening (July 22). Country music star Swift picked up five awards, including choice music female artist and female country artist, as well as voice actress for her role in animated comedy "The Lorax." SOUNDBITE Taylor Swift saying (English): "The fact that you guys voted for me for this, this is a really huge award and I'm so excited and I just feel so honored that I get to have you guys in my life. I'm so happy right now, thank you so much," said the singer as she accepted her award. Canadian pop star Bieber was not far behind Swift, receiving a four awards, adding up to a total of 12 Teen Choice awards in a span of three years. Before accepting his surf board shaped award, the singer performed song "Boyfriend" and latest single, "As Long As You Love Me" with rapper Big Sean. The singer's wins include for the evening include choice music male artist and single by male artist for "Boyfriend." Teen Choice favorite film "The Twilight Saga" picked up the Ultimate Choice Award this year, ahead of the franchise's final installment, "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" scheduled to be released in theaters in November. The Teen Choice Awards, voted for by teen viewers online, gives actors, musicians and other artists who are popular with kids the chance to thank their fans. John Russell, Reuters.
EGG THROWING, A SPORT?
While ones play semi-finals at the EURO 2012, others...
TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER: An eggsciting sport ... that leaves some thoroughly beaten. Egg throwing involves the tossing and catching of raw eggs at increasing distances - with mounting risks. Several eggy events took place in Lincolnshire, England. Not quite as deadly as the "Russian" version, but this game of roulette can result in, well ... egg on your face. Two contenders take turns to choose an egg from a box of six - five are hard-boiled, but one is raw. The person choosing the raw egg loses.
COMPETITOR: "I could tell it was the raw egg, after I had lifted it obviously, but it was cold, the rest of them weren't cold but this one was cold but by that stage I'd picked it, it's too late to put it back."
REPORTER: Organiser Andy Dunlop says Egg Russian Roulette is not just a game of chance.
ANDY DUNLOP, ORGANIZER: Andy Dunlop, organizer, saying (English): "We tried last year to get it recognised by the English Sports council but they rejected that discipline, they said there was no skill involved. We are here today to prove that there is skill."
REPORTER: And when it comes down to the last egg in the box, the outcome is sadly, inevitable. A win for Englishman Jerry Cullen. Who's no egghead. Tara Cleary, Reuters.
REPORTER: An eggsciting sport ... that leaves some thoroughly beaten. Egg throwing involves the tossing and catching of raw eggs at increasing distances - with mounting risks. Several eggy events took place in Lincolnshire, England. Not quite as deadly as the "Russian" version, but this game of roulette can result in, well ... egg on your face. Two contenders take turns to choose an egg from a box of six - five are hard-boiled, but one is raw. The person choosing the raw egg loses.
COMPETITOR: "I could tell it was the raw egg, after I had lifted it obviously, but it was cold, the rest of them weren't cold but this one was cold but by that stage I'd picked it, it's too late to put it back."
REPORTER: Organiser Andy Dunlop says Egg Russian Roulette is not just a game of chance.
ANDY DUNLOP, ORGANIZER: Andy Dunlop, organizer, saying (English): "We tried last year to get it recognised by the English Sports council but they rejected that discipline, they said there was no skill involved. We are here today to prove that there is skill."
REPORTER: And when it comes down to the last egg in the box, the outcome is sadly, inevitable. A win for Englishman Jerry Cullen. Who's no egghead. Tara Cleary, Reuters.
EGG-RELATED IDIOMS
1. If you end up with egg on your face, you are made to look foolish.
2. If someone puts all their eggs in one basket, they put all their effort and resources into doing one thing, so that, if it fails, they have no alternatives left.
3. If you egg a person on, you encourage them to do something, especially something dangerous or foolish.
1. If you end up with egg on your face, you are made to look foolish.
2. If someone puts all their eggs in one basket, they put all their effort and resources into doing one thing, so that, if it fails, they have no alternatives left.
3. If you egg a person on, you encourage them to do something, especially something dangerous or foolish.
COMMENT
The English may be useless at football, but when it comes to Egg Russian Roulette we're unbeatable (pun intended).
The English may be useless at football, but when it comes to Egg Russian Roulette we're unbeatable (pun intended).
from The English Blog.
WORDBUILDING
WORD FORMATION - PREFIXES & SUFFIXES, by Carlos Reis
Find this and other parts of speech exercises in English Exercises .org
VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUND AND/OR INFINITIVE
PREPOSITIONAL VERBS AND PHRASAL VERBS, DIFFERENCES
Prepositional Verbs
First explain the English prepositional verb. Prepositional verbs are defined as intransitive verbs that consist of a verb followed by a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase functions as a verb phrase complement. A verb phrase complement is defined as a word or phrase that directly follows and completes the meaning of the verb. The following English verbs are prepositional verbs:
- approve of
- ask for
- cope with
- insist on
- laugh about
- listen to
For example:
- Her parents approve of her boyfriend.
- The patient is asking for pain medication.
- He has been coping with his increased workload.
- The doctor insisted on several tests.
- We can now laugh about the accident.
- The neighbors listen to terrible music.
Prepositional verbs are intransitive meaning prepositional verbs do not and cannot take direct objects.
Phrasal Verbs
Next explain the English phrasal verb. Phrasal verbs are defined as periphrastic intransitive or transitive verbs that consist of a verb followed by one or more prepositions. The preposition functions as a particle. A particle is defined as a function word that performs a grammatical function but has little lexical meaning. The following English verbs are phrasal verbs:
- act up (misbehave)
- butt in (interrupt)
- drop in on (visit)
- get in (arrive)
- mix up (confuse)
- take after (resemble)
For example:
- My students have been acting up lately.
- His coworker always butts in on his private conversations.
- We dropped in on our grandparents yesterday.
- What time does the train get in?
- I always mix their names up!
- She takes after her father.
Phrasal verbs may be either intransitive or transitive depending on the specific verb. Intransitive phrasal verbs cannot or do not take direct objects. Transitive phrasal verbs must take direct objects. For example:
- The baby just woke up. (intransitive)
- My little brother ran away from home. (intransitive)
- Two toddlers threw up today. (intransitive)
- The construction crew blew up the old building. (transitive)
- The courts have done away with corporeal punishment. (transitive)
- He will pay off his debt. (transitive)
The preposition functioning as the particle may or may not directly follow the verb. Nonseparable phrasal verbs require the preposition to directly follow the verb. Optionally separable phrasal verbs allow the preposition to follow either the verb or the direct object. Obligatorily separable phrasal verbs require the preposition to directly follow the direct object. Only transitive phrasal verbs can be optionally or obligatorily separable. For example:
- The entertainment finally showed up. (nonseparable)
- The boss just laid in on our lazy coworker. (nonseparable)
- The ushers pass out the programs. (optionally separable)
- The ushers pass the programs out. (optionally separable)
- The child looked up the information. (optionally separable)
- The child looked the information up. (optionally separable)
- The child looked it up. (obligatorily separable)
The meaning of a phrasal verb is figurative. For example, the meaning of the phrasal verb throw up "vomit" cannot be determined by combining the meanings of throw "toss" and up "at a higher point." Phrasal verbs often have single-word synonyms as in throw up and vomit.
To determine whether a verb is prepositional or phrasal, your ESL students must look at the transitivity of the verb, the function of the preposition, and separability of the preposition.
- First consider the transitivity of the verb. If the verb is transitive, then the verb-preposition combination is definitely a phrasal verb.
- If the verb is intransitive, then consider the separability of the preposition. If the preposition is separable, then the verb-preposition combination is definitely a phrasal verb.
- If the preposition is nonseparable, finally consider the function of the preposition. If the preposition functions as a particle, then the verb-preposition combination is definitely a phrasal verb.
- If the verb is intransitive, the preposition nonseparable, and the preposition functions as a verb phrase complement, then the verb-preposition combination is definitely a prepositional verb.
Taken FROM
BOOKS 3rd TERM
HERE YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FOR THIS 3rd TERM.
A.
A.
Ghost Stories (5 stories)
STAGE 5 - Fantasy & Horror
After dinner we turned the lights out and played 'hide-and-seek'. In the dark, I touched a hand, a very cold hand. Now, because of the game, I had to hide in the dark with . . . with this cold person - not speaking, not knowing who it was. Slowly the others found us, hid with us, until we were all there - all thirteen. Thirteen? But there were only twelve people in the house!
B.
A FOREIGNER IN NEW YORK
| Genre: Fiction Words: 1,700-2,220 Headwords In this sequel to our successful Bachillerato 1 reader, A Foreigner in Britain, we follow Antonio on his travels around New York. Antonio’s impressions of the city are conveyed through a series of visits to major landmarks and meetings with fascinating people. This entertaining reader will give your students a delightful introduction to this world-famous city, its history and way of life. |
WHAT IS A FREEGAN?
Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.
READ MORE
I WISH / IF ONLY....
I WISH / IF ONLY
There are four types of I wish / If only sentences.
1. A regret that a present, future or general situation is not what you would like it to be:
I wish / If only + S + Past
- I wish I were rich. (I am not)
- I wish it didn’t rain tomorrow.
2. A regret that sth happened or didn’t happen in the past.
I wish / If only + S + Past Perfect
- I wish I had already started studying for the exam. (I have not)
- I wish I had been able to go to the concert.
3. A desire for someone or something to change or to do or stop doing something.
This type of I wish sentence expresses some kind of ANNOYANCE.
I wish + S + WOULD + V
- I wish you wouldn’t smoke so much.
- I wish the children would be quiet.
NOTE: You CANNOT use WOULD when the subject of the subordinate clause is the same as the subject of the main clause.
4. A wish that sb was able to do sth which they can’t do.
I wish + S + COULD + V
- I wish I could give up smoking.
- I wish I could play the piano.
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