martes, 1 de diciembre de 2009

Final Exam

Dear Students of PG4:

Unfourtanetly, I haven't had the opportunity to take a look at the Final Exam but as I said the last class: Practice the Writing sections of the Units on the Workbook (especially the Writing a story in the past and writing a formal and informal invitation) that will be useful for you to overcome the writing section of the exam.

Remember to check phrasal verbs and the structure of passive voice as well as the present perfect continuous and the past perfect (past participle of irregular verbs). But the most important is that you have to relax and enjoy the final exam.

You know that if you have any problems during the exam, I'll be there to give you a hand but not the answers OK?

I know you all are going to do your best.

Hugs
Ale.

martes, 24 de noviembre de 2009

Present Perfect VS. Present Perfect Continuous

To make it clear this is valuable information to make difference between PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

There is often very little difference between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous. In many cases, both are equally acceptable.

  • I've lived here for 10 years and she has been living here for 12 years.
  • They've been working here for a long time and Andy has worked here for even longer.

When we want to emphasize the action, we use the continuous form.

  • I've been working really hard lately.
  • She's been having a hard time.

When we want to emphasize the result of the action, we use the simple form.

  • I've phoned 32 people today.
  • She's written a 64 page report.

Look at these examples to see the contrast.

  • I've been driving for 5 hours and I've driven 500 miles.
  • She's been speaking on the phone for 20 minutes and she's not managed to convince him yet.
  • We've been talking about this for a month and we still haven't found a solution.

If an action is finished and you can see the results, use the continuous form. But only if you use it as an explanation of the results.

  • Your eyes are red. You've been crying.
  • You're hot. Have you been running?

If you use the words 'ever' or 'never', use the simple form.

  • I've never met her.
  • Have you ever heard anything so strange in your life?

miércoles, 18 de noviembre de 2009

Inspired By Hand: The No Knit Scarf How-to

Inspired By Hand: The No Knit Scarf How-to

Una forma original de "tejer" una bufanda sin tener que tejer. Echenle un ojo... Love

martes, 10 de noviembre de 2009

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action.

Use of Present Perfect Progressive

  • puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result)

    Example: She has been writing for two hours.

NOT: She has been writing 3 letters for 2 hours. USE: I have written 3 letters for 2 hours.

  • action that recently stopped or is still going on

    Example: I have been living here since 2001.

  • finished action that influenced the present

    Example: I am tired right now because I have been working all afternoon.

Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive

  • all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

No class

Hi, this is just to let you know that WE'RE NOT HAVING CLASS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11th. So, it is not necessary that you go there tomorrow because school will be totally closed.
Remember that also on Monday, November 16th, class is suspended due to the Mexican Revolution Day long weekend.
Please, do your homework and try to answer Workbook exercises of UNIT 11 and 12 to review.
Have a great weekend and use this free time wisely.
Hugs
Ale Gonzalez

martes, 27 de octubre de 2009

PASSIVE VOICE

Form of Passive
Subject + to be + Past Participle

Examples of Passive

I know you have found lots of problems about the use of Passive voice and let me tell you that it is not common use passive voice while talking to someone else directly. We have also saw that for the NEWS and the HISTORY passive voice is very common, so when is it OK to use the passive? Here are some useful tips you can follow to use passive voice:
1. To emphasize an object/reciever.Take a look at this example:
100 votes are required to pass the bill.

This passive sentence emphasizes the number of votes required. An active version of the sentence ("The bill requires 100 votes to pass") puts the emphasis on the bill, which may be less dramatic.

2. When the subject/doer is not important. Consider this example:


Over 120 different contaminants have been dumped into the river.

If you don't know who the "doer" is—in this case, if you don't actually know who dumped all of those contaminants in the river—then you may need to write in the passive. But remember, if you do know the actor, and if the clarity and meaning of your writing would benefit from indicating him/her/it/them, then use an active construction. Yet consider the third case.

3. If your readers or listeners don't need to know who's responsible for the action.
Here are two examples:

The baby was delivered at 3:30 p.m. yesterday.(passive)

and
Dr. Jones delivered the baby at 3:30 p.m. yesterday.(active)


The first sentence might be more appropriate in a birth announcement sent to family and friends—they are not likely to know Dr. Jones and are much more interested in the "object"(the baby) than in the actor (the doctor). A hospital report of yesterday's events might be more likely to focus on Dr. Jones' role.

martes, 13 de octubre de 2009

Answers

I

  1. b buy
  2. b hearing
  3. c go
  4. a to play
  5. b to do
  6. a have
  7. b to do
  8. a you
  9. b up
  10. a told

II

  1. I may buy a new car. / If it is possible, I will buy a new car.
  2. You have to pay attention in class. / You've got to pay attention in class.
  3. I'm going to have a party next month.
  4. I don't think you should spend so much money.
  5. When Ricardo was young, he used to go to the movies every Wednesday.
  6. You must wash your hands.

martes, 6 de octubre de 2009

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

In the First Conditional, the tense in the 'if clause' is the simple present, and the tense in the 'main clause' is the simple future:

'IF' CLAUSE (CONDITION) MAIN CLAUSE (RESULT)
If + simple present Simple future
If it rains, you will get wet
If you don't hurry, we will miss the train.

In these sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real. They refer to a possible condition and its probable result. They are based on facts, and they are used to make statements about the real world, and about particular situations.
We often use such sentences to give warnings:
If you don't leave, I'll call the police.
If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!
Examples:
If you drop that glass, it will break.
Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.
If I have time, I'll finish that letter.
What will you do if you miss the plane?
NOTE: We can use modals to express the degree of certainty of the result:
If you drop that glass, it might break.
I may finish that letter if I have time.

miércoles, 23 de septiembre de 2009

martes, 22 de septiembre de 2009

Must, have to and should: (Modals)

You must do your homework.
You must wipe your feet before you enter.
MUST: obligation is imposed by the speaker. The speaker has authority over the one that is spoken to and he/she exercises his/her power.
Must is also preferred to refer to ourselves (I must go now) and to express a strong advice or invitation (That's a picture you really must see).

You have to pass your exams if you want to succeed.
In England you have to drive on the left.
HAVE TO: obligation springs from circumstances or external rules. Something has to be done, whether the speaker likes it or not.

You should quit smoking.
You should remember these rules.
SHOULD is used to give advice. No obligation here, rather a recommendation from the speaker

sábado, 19 de septiembre de 2009

Welcome!!

Hi, if you are part of the PG4 group CONGRATULATIONS you're learning English. Here your teacher will upload useful information and tips for the development of you English Skills, as well as interesting sites in which you can practice English at the same time you are having fun.

Hope you enjoy all this.

Hugs
Alejandra Gonzalez