Prepositions

How long since the last time I saw you... (on the web, I mean)...

Well, as promised, here you are the file containing the exercises on prepositions we are working on at the moment and that, as has already been mentioned in the class, have been scanned from Thomson, A.J. and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar: Exercises 2 (Oxford: Oxford UP, 1986 [1ª ed. 1975]), pp. 22-5 and 166.

We have always thought of English prepositions as something really difficult to learn and use. Nevertheless, they are not... Of course, as almost everything dealing with English as a Second Language, it depends on the learners' attitude to/towards them. In this sense and in order to avoid mistakes when using prepositions, it is essential, as almost always, that you read and do as many exercises as possible dealing with different aspects related to the use of prepositions in English. In order to help you, here you are some Web sites on which you will find information about/(on) and exercises on prepositions of place and prepositions of time.

However, as you may imagine, not only do we have those "elementary" prepositions in English. We can also talk about "prepositional phrases" (defined in the Collins Cobuild Dictionary as "a structure consisting of a preposition and its object. Examples are `on the table' and `by the sea'" [bold type is mine]), or "collocations" ("words in habitual company" as were defined first by J. Firth ["Modes of Meaning", in Firth, J. (ed.), Papers in Linguistics (Oxford: Oxford UP, 1957, p. 183)] , on this occasion "grammatical collocations" (for those interested in the different kinds of collocations and what they consist in, read this article [although its title may seem laughable or uninteresting for us]), to say but a couple of examples (I have tried to avoid phrasal verbs and idioms). That is the reason why I have decided to add some more Web pages which prove to be really useful to improve our knowledge of such a "frightening" subject.

First, you will find here a short description of prepositional phrases and some exercises (Advanced level), and here you are a useful web page to practise (more exercises can be found on this page).

Secondly, as far as collocations are concerned, an interesting and useful dictionary can be found on the web (although no Spanish meanings have been included, but I think they are not necessary). Finally, an indispensable list of verbs followed by a preposition and some exercises, compiled by Helen Kisunko, can be found here.

I really hope all those Web sites and exercises are useful enough to stop making so many mistakes when using prepositions... Have fun!

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Third-Term-Use-of-English Test

As I told you last week, here you are the Third-Term-Use-of-English test for the 1st Year of Bachillerato. I have decided not to include the keys since, in the 2nd year of Bachillerato, we will begin by reviewing this test.
Nevertheless, I think it would be an excellent idea to print the exam and, after checking the language points studied throughout the course, do them again, especially those of you who have to take the extra test at the very beginning of September. You should also bear in mind that in that exam you will have to write a composition.
Last week, I also handed back the text and questions of the Reading Comprehension & Composition test. Those of you who are interested in it, go to the High School from July 14 on and I will give you a copy or ask a classmate to lend it to you and photocopy it.
I really hope you have a great time in summer. Resting is very important as well, mainly when you deserve it.

P.D.: Remember that the graded reader for next course is
American Crime Stories. Oxford Bookworms. Level 6. With CD. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

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Poem of English Pronunciation

English pronunciation has always thought to be difficult, if not "impossible" for students, since quite frequently spelling of words has nothing to do with the way they are pronounced. That is the reason why I would like to recommend you a poem by George Noist Trenité (1870-1946) included in "The Chaos" (1922). I think it is both funny and useful to learn some rhymes and the pronunciation of some frequently-forgotten words. Not only may you download the audio file (I recommend you to download the file with the highest quality) from this page (thanks to Stateside Sounds for letting us enjoy it) but you can also get the poem from it (I decided not to include it in this article because it is quite long).

You can improve your English pronunciation first through working on the vocabulary and phonetics of every single word in the poem. Then you should listen to it several times while you read it.

I really hope you have fun!!!

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1st term grammar-vocabulary tests

As promised, here you are the answer keys for the 1st term grammar-vocabulary tests. All the different questions for each group have been included in one only file.
I really hope you may consolidate every single point studied in the first term. Very soon, exercises to improve the passive voice in English will be added.
See you soon.

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Writing "Giving Instructions" Essays

Giving Instructions essays are essays in which you explain how to do something. Students are often asked for an explanation of how to do something in writing. Essays explaining, for example, how to change a tyre, how to use a software programme, how to get your driving licence, or how to mend your car, are allGiving Instructions essays.

The table below shows the organization of a basic 350 word Giving Instructions essay. Note, first, that the essay is five paragraphs containing three main parts, an introduction, body, and conclusion. The function of the introduction within this organization is to get the reader’s attention and to state the organization of the paper. The function of the conclusion within this organization is to summarize the main points, and to leave the reader with a good impression. The body contains three parts, each part an organizing principle of the main idea.

All the paragraphs have a specific function, as can be seen in the right column. In the first paragraph you "tell your readers what you are going to tell them." In the second, third, and fourth paragraphs readers can find what you "tell them." Finally, in the last paragraph you "tell your readers what you have told them".

from www.eslbee.com

Additional "Tips" for Five-Paragraph Giving Instructions Essays

1. Use chronological order. Many Giving Instructions essays must be written in chronological order. If you are explaining how to make a cake, for example, all the necessary steps must be in chronological order, or the reader will not succeed in making a good cake. (Chronological order often requires effective use of time transitions as follows: first, second, then, after that, later, and finally, for example).

2. Know your audience, and write for your audience. If you are explaining how to send an attachment with an e-mail message (or how to download an MP3 and convert it to WAV) to someone who has limited computer experience, it is necessary to explain it simply so it can be easily understood.

3. Stick to the point. When explaining how to make a cake, for example, don’t discuss where to buy cheap flour or how to beat the eggs. Such details may interest the reader, but they won’t help in making the cake.

4. State your organization. This point simply cannot be overemphasized! Even if you know how your paper is organized, your readers do not, so tell them explicitly! Do not leave it to your readers to figure out. While this may sound childish or even simplistic to the non-native English speaker, it is not simplistic. On the contrary, it is the exactly the organizational pattern that readers of English expect.You will never go wrong if you err on the side of clarity, so state your organization clearly.

5. Use a straight line of development."Tell your readers what you are going to tell them." Then "tell them." Then "tell them what you told them."

Here you are an example of a Giving Instructions essay. Read it.

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Verb Tenses

When learning English there are a couple of things we must first take into account.

1. The word order in sentences. Remember that the common order in positive sentences is as follows:

SUBJECT + VERB + INDIRECT OB. + DIRECT OB. + COMPLEMENTS
eg.She will tell you the truth next week

Here you are a page on the web to practise it.

2. The form and use of verb tenses.
To be able to have a good command of English it is essential that students of English master verb tenses.
On this page you can find an excellent tutorial to learn and practise verb tenses in English, both in the active and the passive voice. All levels are included on the page.

And in these files you can find several exercises related to the subject:

Elementary (1º ESO and 2º ESO)

Intermediate (3º ESO and 4º ESO)

Advanced (1º Bachillerato and 2º Bachillerato)

Any doubts with verb tenses? Ask them by writing a commentary to this "article".

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PAU (Pruebas de acceso a la universidad)

As I have already told some of the students of the 2nd year of Bachillerato, the English test of the "PAU" might be changed for the course 2007-2008. If this happened, we would let you know it as soon as possible. However, at the moment, the structure of the test and the kinds of questions asked will remain the same.

That is the reason why you may find here the English tests of June 2004, September 2004, June 2005, and September 2005.

You should always bear in mind that when learning a second language, "the more you practise the better for you". From now on, I am at your disposal in case you want to get any of these tests corrected.

By the way, here you are another one whose passage talks about the intention of Germany of launching a new satellite to orbit the Moon.

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