domingo, 21 de octubre de 2012

Tenses: past simple and past continuous

PAST SIMPLE and PAST CONTINUOS


FORM:
Simple PastPast Progressive
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
 
I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
  • when the final letter is e, only add d.
    Example: love - loved
  • after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
    Example: admit - admitted
  • final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
    Example: travel - travelled
  • after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel)
    Example: worry - he worried
    but: play - he played
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
  • silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
    Example: come - coming
    but: agree - agreeing
  • after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
    Example: sit - sitting
  • final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
    Example: travel - travelling
  • final ie becomes y.
    Example: lie - lying

USE:

Simple PastPast Progressive
after another
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails.
at the same time
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching TV.

Simple PastPast Progressive
new action
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)
action already in progress
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

Simple PastPast Progressive
just mentioning
Colin played football yesterday.
emphasising progress
Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Past simple and past continuous (español)


1.- Past simple
El "past simple" describe una acción pasada ya finalizada.
When I was young I lived in Madrid (ahora vivo en Barcelona)
2.- Past continuous
Indica que una acción se estaba desarrollando en cierto momento del pasado al cual se hace referencia. No dice si la acción ya finalizó o todavía continuaba.
When the mother came home her husband was playing with the kids (no sabemos si terminó de jugar en ese momento o continuó jugando)
A veces se describen dos acciones simultáneas que tuvieron lugar en el pasado. En dicho caso, se utiliza el "past imple" para describir aquella que finalizó y el "past continuous" para aquella otra que estaba ocurriendo cuando la primera tuvo lugar.
Yesterday evening when you called me I was having a shower
When the parents arrived home the children were watching TV
Otra diferencia entre ambos tiempos es que el "past continuous" se utiliza a veces para indicar que la acción es más casual, menos planificada.
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I was running (algo rutinario, que suelo hacer con frecuencia, por lo que no lo resalto)
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I ran (algo diferente, un tanto extraordinario, por lo que quiero destaca.
Time expressions

Simple PastPast Progressive
  • first
  • then
  • If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)
  • when
  • while
  • as long as

EXERCISES:
http://www.aulafacil.com/Ingejerc/Lecciones/Ejerc19.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro/exercises?ex07

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro/exercises?ex08

TENSES

TENSES

Present simple and present continuous

FORM:

Simple PresentPresent Progressive
infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
form of 'be' and verb + ing
 
I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' :
  • For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
    Example: he can, she may, it must
  • After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
    Example: do - he does, wash - she washes
  • After a consonant, the final consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)
    Example: worry - he worries
    but: play - he plays
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
  • Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
    Example: come - coming
    but: agree - agreeing
  • After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
    Example: sit - sitting
  • After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).
    Example: travel - travelling (British English)
    but: traveling (American English)
  • Final ie becomes y.
    Example: lie - lying

USE:

Simple PresentPresent Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
  • always
  • every ...
  • often
  • normally
  • usually
  • sometimes
  • seldom
  • never
  • first
  • then
  • at the moment
  • at this moment
  • today
  • now
  • right now
  • Listen!
  • Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Simple PresentPresent Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.

Simple PresentPresent Progressive
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.
TESTS:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test1

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test2

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test3




Pages for practicing English

USEFUL WEBSITES TO PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH


Conversation:

Conversation: http://www.eslfast.com/robot/

Speaking: http://www.learnenglish.de/englishchat.htm

Conversation: http://www.talkenglish.com/

Conversation: http://www.englishdaily626.com/conversation.php

Fonética: http://usefulenglish.ru/phonetics/practice-vowel-contrast

Common mistakes in English

Mistakes: http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/common-mistakes-practice

Vocabulary, grammar, listening, exercises:

Vocabulary and speaking: http://www.englishgateway.com/free-practice

Grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking (lots of exercises): http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/

English grammar: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/

Grammar theory: http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/

Basic English: http://portal.unedmotril.org/files/english%20grammar_1.pdf

English grammar exercises: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar

English grammar theory: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/

Gramática inglesa en español: http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omgrammar/indicetematico.htm

English grammar exercises: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/alle_grammar.htm

English grammar: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/

English vocabulary by categories: http://www.theenglishvocabulary.com/categorytopic.php?lang=3

English vocabulary: http://www.languageguide.org/english/

English vocabulary: http://www.shertonenglish.com/resources/es/vocabulary.php

Vocabulary: http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabpage.htm

Vocabulary: http://www.saberingles.com.ar/vocabulary.html

English vocabulary quizz: http://iteslj.org/v/s/

 
Quizzes                                                                                   

Quizz: http://www.quibblo.com/

BBC Quizzes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/

Interactive quizzes: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm

Fun quizzes: http://www.funquizcards.com/

Youtube lessons

The world of English: http://www.youtube.com/user/duncaninchina

Let's talk institute: http://www.youtube.com/user/learnexmumbai

English with Jennifer: http://www.youtube.com/user/JenniferESL

English lessons 4u: http://www.youtube.com/user/englishlessons4u

English class 101: http://www.youtube.com/user/ENGLISHCLASS101



sábado, 8 de septiembre de 2012

Leisure, unit 1


Leisure

Leisure may be defined as the spare-time which a man gets after his bread and butter activities are over. It is the time which a man is free to pass in any way he likes. He has already his day's work. He has no longer to worry about the work by which he earns his living. Still he has sometimes left on his hand. That is leisure or spare time. A man gets more of leisure during holidays that in working day.
Modern life is a busy life. The pace of life gets faster and faster every day and a man must hurry and utilize every moment of his life, otherwise he would be left behind in the race of life. But some leisure is necessary for the happiness of life. There can be no happiness for a man, unless he gets some time to pass in the way he likes best. The great English poet Davies protested against this over-business of life when he wrote.

What is this life, if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.


Simple Present – Present Progressive

Form

Simple Present
Present Progressive
infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
form of 'be' and verb + ing
 

I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' :
  • For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
Example: he can, she may, it must
  • After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes
  • After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
  • Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
  • After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
Example: sit - sitting
  • After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).
Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)
  • Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present
Present Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
  • always
  • every ...
  • often
  • normally
  • usually
  • sometimes
  • seldom
  • never
  • first
  • then
  • at the moment
  • at this moment
  • today
  • now
  • right now
  • Listen!
  • Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present
Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.

 

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present
Present Progressive
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).
  • state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We are on holiday.
  • possession: belong, have
Example: Sam has a cat.
  • senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold.
  • feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loves pizza.
  • brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I believe you.
  • Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.



Gramática

Ambos verbos se utilizan para describir acciones presentes, si bien con diferentes matices.

a) Present continuous

a.1) Describe acciones que están ocurriendo en ese preciso momento.
I am reading the newspaper (lo estoy leyendo ahora)
a.2) También puede describir acciones que ocurren alrededor del momento actual, aunque no precisamente ahora.
I am planning a trip to Egypt for this summer (por ejemplo, le estoy contando a un amigo que estoy planeando un viaje; no es que lo esté planeando en ese preciso momento)

b) Present simple

b.1) Describe acciones habituales, actuales, generales, que no tienen porqué estar ocurriendo en ese preciso momento.

I work in a bank
I speak English very fluently
In Madrid people drive very fast

b.2) Describe también acciones que se repiten periódicamente, acciones rutinarias.

Every morning I have a meeting with my boss at 8 o'clock
I play tennis every Sunday

Algunos verbos no se suelen utilizar en tiempo continuo, por lo que en estos casos hay que emplear el "present simple":

Verbos que describen acciones de los sentidos: feel, hear, see, smell...
Verbos de sentimiento / emoción: like, love, hate, want, wish, fear, desire, detest, dislike...
Verbos de acciones mentales: agree, believe, forget, know, remember, think (=tener una opinion), understand, realize...
Verbos de posesión: belong, own, posess...

Por último, decir que estas dos formas verbales se emplean a veces para describir acciones futuras.

¿Qué son los Stative verbs?

En inglés hay una serie de verbos que NO se usan en su forma continua (presente continuo, futuro continuo…) son verbos que describen estados, situaciones y condiciones y se llaman STATIVE verbs.

-Decimos I have a car, y no I´m having a car.

Los verbos que SI se usan en sus formas continuas son los llamados DYNAMIC verbs, ya que describen principalmente acciones.

Veamos una lista de los STATIVE verbs más comunes agrupados por categorías:

STATIVE VERBS o verbos que no se usan en su forma continua:

-Verbos que describen un estado (feel , be) o estados mentales como opinión, duda, acuerdo o desacuerdo:

agree, think, believe, disagree, feel, doubt, depend, understand, know, mean, remember, seem, look (=seem), mind, suppose, guess, appear, matter, concern, realise

Ejemplos:

-Mary feels good.  Mary se siente bien.
-I am very happy. Yo estoy muy contenta.
-She looks very nice in that dress.
Ella se ve bien con ese vestido.

1)Verbos que describen gustos, preferencias, o emociones: like, dislike, prefer, love, hate.                         

Ejemplos:

-I don´t like cheese. No me gusta el queso.
-I  love westerns. Me encantan las películas del oeste.

2)Verbos relacionados con la posesión o pertenencia: have, possess, belong, own, owe, lack, include, involve.

Ejemplos:

-That house belongs to the Murphys. Esta casa pertenece a los Murphys.
-I don´t understand her accent.
No entiendo su acento.

3) Verbos que describen el peso, medida, contenido o características de algo: weigh, measure, consist, contain.

Ejemplos:

- The parcel weighs 3kg and contains 6 video games. El paquete pesa 3kg y contine 6 videojuegos.

4) Verbos que expresan deseo o necesidad: want, wish, need, deserve.

-I want an ice cream. Quiero un helado.

5) Verbos relacionados con la percepción y los sentidos: sound, hear, taste, see, smell,  imagine, recognise, satisfy

Ejemplo:

- The soup smells good. La sopa huele bien.       


Pero !ojo! algunos verbos pueden ser tanto stative como  dynamic;  estos verbos tienen más de un significado.

Algunos de ellos son: be, have, think, see, smell o taste.

Veamos algunos ejemplos:

Be
-She is funny. Ella es divertida.
-She is being very funny. Ella está siendo muy divertida.

En la primera frase se “funny” describe una característica de la persona (static), mientras que en la segunda se habla de un comportamiento en un determinado momento (dynamic).

Have

-I have a car. Tengo un coche.
-Are you having a good time?
¿Lo estás pasando bien?

En el primer ejemplo “have” indica posesión (static) mientras que en el segundo forma parte de la expresión “to have a good time” que no tiene nada que ver con la posesión, otras expresiones con have: have lunch, have a shower, have a party, have a good time

See

-I see what you mean. Entiendo lo que quieres decir.
-I see you now, you are in front of the bookshop.
Ahora te veo, estás delante de la librería.
-I´m seeing Mary this afternoon. Voy a ver a Mary esta tarde.
-I´ve been seing my girlfriend since last August.
He estado viendo a mi novia desde agosto del año pasado.

See puede significar ver o entender (static) y también reunirse con alguien o tener una relación (dynamic)

Taste (smell)

-The food tastes good. La comida sabe bien.
-The cook is tasting the food.
El cocinero está probando la comida.

Podemos decir que algo tiene un sabor u olor determinado, (static) y también hablar de la acción de saborear u oler (dynamic).

Como dato curioso, te sonará seguro un caso en el que estas reglas no se aplican, y es que quién no ha escuchado el famosísimo eslogan de Macdonalds'
“I´m loving it”.

Aquí el verbo love, que debería ser stative, se usa como dynamic; las reglas se rompen en beneficio del marketing y la publicidad. Debido a que el lenguaje es un sistema en constante evolución, este fenómeno ocurre en numerosas ocasiones, pero no quiere decir esto que no debamos aprender las reglas gramaticales, sino al contrario, debemos aprenderlas bien primero, para luego romperlas. 



domingo, 6 de mayo de 2012

Les adjectifs et pronoms démostratifs

LES ADJECTIFS DÉMONSTRATIFS (lisez la leçon et faites l'exercice)

(ce/cet/cette /ces)
adjectif démonstratif : ce
Ce + nom masculin
Ce verre
adjectif démonstratif : cetCet + nom masculin commençant par une voyelle.
Cet arbre
adjectif démonstratif : cetteCette + nom féminin
Cette chaise
adjectif démonstratif : cesCes + nom pluriel
Ces livres
Exemple : Cette histoire commence en France.

LES PRONOMS DÉMONSTRATIFS
El pronombre sustituye al sustantivo para evitar repetición.

Ce soldat-ci est courageux
Celui-ci est courageux -
Ce soldat-là est couard
Celui-là est couard Formas simples:
Celui (el)/ celle (la) / ceux (los) / celles (las) Celui de (Él de)
Celle de (La de)
Celui qui (Él que) Funciona como sujeto
Celui que (Él que)
Celle qui (La que) Funciona como sujeto Celle que (La que)
Ceux qui (Los que) Funciona como sujeto
Ceux que (Los que) Celles qui (las que)Funciona como sujeto Celles que (las que)
Estas formas van normalmente acompañadas de:
qui, que, de, des, du.

I
l y a deux chemises. Celle de gauche me plaît plus.
Hay dos camisas. La de la izquierda me gusta más.
Quel livre voulez-vous?
Celui qui est sur la console
¿Qué libro quiere? . El que está sobre el mostrador.
Qui est ta soeur?
Celle qui est debout
¿Quién es tu hermana? La que está de pie. Quelle maison vas tu acheter? Celle que nous avons visitée l'autre jour. ¿Qué casa vas a comprar? La que nosotros hemos visitado el otro día.
Il a aidé
ceux qu'il pouvait
Él ha ayudado a los que ella podía. Il a réglé son ordonnateur et celui de sa fiancée Ha arreglado su ordenador y el de su prometida.
También se acompañan a veces de las particulas
"-ci" / "-la" para indicar proximidad o lejanía.

Masc sin. :
Celui-ci (este)/Celui-là (ese o aquel)

Fem. sing.:
Celle-ci (esta)/Celle- là (esa o aquella)

Neutro sing.:
Ceci / cela (Eso en ambos casos)

Mas./Fem. Plural:
Ceux-ci (estos)/ Ceux-là (esos o aquellos) ; Celles-ci (estas) / Celles-là (esas o aquellas)
 


Pronoms possessifs

Pronoms possessifs

Le pronom possessif sert à remplacer un nom précédé d'un adjectif possessif (mon, ton son...).

Il varie selon le genre et le nombre du nom qu'il remplace.
Exemples :
1. Voilà ma soeur -> voilà la mienne       
Here is my sister -> here is mine
--> 'la mienne' remplace 'ma soeur' qui est au féminin singulier

2. Il a apporté ses livres -> il a apporté les siens
--> 'les siens' remplace 'ses livres' qui est au masculin pluriel

MASCULIN Singulier
MASCULIN Pluriel
FEMININ Singulier
FEMININ Pluriel
le mienles miensla mienneles miennes
le tien les tiensla tienneles tiennes
le sienles siensla sienneles siennes
le nôtreles nôtresla nôtreles nôtres
le vôtreles vôtresla vôtreles vôtres
le leurles leursla leurles leurs
Attention à nôtre et vôtre car dans ce cas-ci, ils prennent un accent circonflexe sur le O


Les adjectifs possessifs

Les adjectifs possessifs

Les adjectifs possessifs indiquent une possession d’un ou plusieurs objets. Ils s’accordent en genre et en nombre avec l’objet possédé.
 
Personne qui possède
Singulier (un objet possédé)
Pluriel (plus d’un objet possédé)
moi
mon père, ma mère
mes parents
toi
ton frère, ta soeur
tes amis
lui, elle
son cousin, sa cousine
ses oncles
nous
notre maison
nos frères
vous
votre voiture
vos grands-parents
eux, elles
leur jardin
leurs tantes