During and In

Ayu and Flora were talking today about the use of 'during' and 'in'.

Please have a look at the following website and practice exercises.

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/preps_during-in.html

Classroom Thoughts

James answered immediately. (adverb)

James answered in English. (prepositional phrase)

James answered this morning. (noun phrase)

James answered in English because he had a foreign visitor.(adverbial clause)

 

Types of adverbials that form sentence elements

Adverbials are typically divided into four classes:
adverbial complements (i.e. obligatory adverbial) are adverbials that render a sentence ungrammatical and meaningless if removed.

John put the flowers in a vase.

adjuncts: these are part of the core meaning of the sentence, but if omitted still leave a meaningful sentence.

John helped me with my homework.

conjuncts: these link two sentences together.

John helped so I was, therefore, able to do my homework.

disjuncts: these make comments on the meaning of the rest of the sentence.

Surprisingly, he passed all of his exams.

Distinguishing an adverbial from an adjunct

All verb- or sentence-modifying adjuncts are adverbials, but some adverbials are not adjuncts.

• If the removal of an adverbial does not leave a well-formed sentence, then it is not an adjunct
• If the adverbial modifies within a sentence element, and is not a sentence element in its own right, it is not an adjunct.
• If the adverbial is not grammatically tied to the sentence it is not an adjunct, e.g.

Mr Reninson; however, voted against the proposal. (adverbial conjunct not adjunct)

Activity:
http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/Secondary/EnglishAndMedia/11-14/GrammarMattersToo/Samples/SampleGrammarActivityWorksheetsfromtheTeacherResourceFile/GM_Too_TRF_p36_sample.pdf

Overview of Inversions and links to activities

Use of Question Form
In this case, the question form (auxiliary + subject + main verb) takes the place of the standard positive sentence structure (i.e. He goes to work every day):
Examples
Not only do I enjoy classical music, but I also have a season ticket to the symphony.
Seldom has the boss been so upset!
In this case, the question form is substituted for standard sentence structure in a statement. Generally, an inversion is used to stress the uniqueness of an event and begins with a negative.
 
Negative Adverbials
Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom
These time expressions are used with a perfect form or with modals and often include comparatives:
Examples
Never have I been more insulted!
Seldom has he seen anything stranger.

Time expressions: hardly, barely, no sooner, or scarcely
These time expressions are used when a there are a succession of events in the past.
Examples
Scarcely had I got out of bed when the doorbell rang.
No sooner had he finished dinner, when she walked in the door.

After 'Only' Expressions such as 'only after', 'only when', 'only then', etc.
'Only' is used with a time expression.
Examples
Only then did I understand the problem.
Only after understanding the situation does the teacher make a comment.

After 'Little'
'Little' is used in a negative sense.
Examples
Little did he understand the situation.
Little have I read concerning nanotechnology.

Inversion after 'So', 'Such', and 'That'
'So'
'So + adjective ... that' combines with the verb 'to be'.
Examples
So strange was the situation that I couldn't sleep.
So difficult is the test that students need three months to prepare.

'Such'
'So + to be + noun ... (that)':
Examples
Such is the moment that all greats traverse.
Such is the stuff of dreams.

Inverted Conditional Forms
Sometimes conditional forms are inverted as a means of sounding more formal. In this case, the conditional 'if' is dropped and the inverted forms takes the place of the 'if clause'.
Examples
Had he understood the problem, he wouldn't have committed those mistakes.Should he decide to come, please telephone.

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/english_lessons/english-exercises-on-inversion

Punctuation Exercises! :)

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/index.htm
I have found a really useful little site run by Bristol University with lots of exercises on grammar and writing skills.
Definitely worth a visit!

CPE Exam Practice Tests

Hello everyone,

I was trying to get CPE 4 practice tests for you to use and after liasing with Nasser (Senior Teacher), it was agreed that it would be best to leave the practice tests for CPE2.

It is probably best to go through them a bit later to avoid jumping in too much. So instead of every week, I will give you a practice exam every few weeks.

Don't worry as I will still be giving extra optional things to do e.g. phrasal verbs, collocations, writing tasks, grammar - which will inform you when doing practise exams in the future.

If you have any questions, please post and I'll see what I can do to help!

Des :)

Website of the Week

Website of the week - From International House Barcelona.


Lots more activities if you have completed the exercises on Flo-joe


http://www.english-online.org.uk/cpefolder/cpehome.php?name=Practice%20for%20the%20Cambridge%20Proficiency%20English

Conditionals - Extra Exercises and Explanations

Just found this and it's quite a good resource on conditionals with explanations and exercises.


http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html


For Example:

Mixed Conditionals

Verbs in green are in the Present Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in red are in the Past Unreal Conditional.

Verbs in purple are in the Future Unreal Conditional.

Mixed Conditional Patterns

PAST

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.
  But I didn't win the lottery in the past and I am not rich now.
• If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
  But I didn't take French in high school and I don't have many job opportunities.
• If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
  But she wasn't born in the United States and she does need a visa now to work here.

PAST

FUTURE

Examples:

• If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us tomorrow.
  But she didn't sign up for the ski trip last week and she isn't going to join us tomorrow.
• If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
  But Mark didn't get the job and Mark is not going to move to Shanghai.
• If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would go to Mexico with us next month.
  But Darren wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas and he won't go to Mexico with us next month.

PRESENT

PAST

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
  But I am not currently rich and that is why I didn't buy the Ferrari yesterday.
• If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
  But Sam doesn't speak Russian and that is why he didn't translate the letter.
• If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
  But I have to work a lot and that is why I didn't go to the party last night.

PRESENT

FUTURE

Examples:

• If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to Alaska next week.
  But I do have a lot of vacation time and I will go on the trip next week.
• If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work on the new advertising campaign.
  But Cindy is not creative and the company won't send her to New York to work on the new campaign.
• If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.
  But Dan is nice and he is going to tutor you tonight.

FUTURE

PAST

Examples:

• If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that new assignment at work.
  But I am going to go on a business trip next week, and that is why I didn't accept that new assignment at work.
• If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have planned a nice trip just for the two of us to Napa Valley.
  But my parents are going to come this weekend, and that is why I didn't plan a trip for the two of us to Napa Valley.
• If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have suggested that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.
  But she is going to make us a big dinner tonight, and that is why I didn't suggest that we go to that nice Italian restaurant.

FUTURE

PRESENT

Examples:

• If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.
  But I am not going to go to that concert tonight and that is why I am not excited.
• If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.
  But Sandy is not going to give a speech tomorrow and that is why she in not nervous.
• If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
  But Seb will come with us to the desert and that is why everyone is so happy.

Website of the Week! Splendid - Speaking

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More activities on Splendid-Speaking.com ...

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Two Important Websites

Lots of exercises to help you practice!
http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/index.htm
and
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/cpe.html