Indirect questions.

What for?
To sound more polite.
To beat about the bush (andarse con rodeos :P)

Common expressions used to "ask":

I wonder if...

I would like to know...

I don't know...

I'm not sure....

I don't remember...

Can/ could you tell me...?

Do you know...?

Do you have any idea...?

Do you happen to know...?

Word order
If we do not begin a question directly, but begin it with something like: Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I wonder if...? the word order is the same as in an affirmative statement (subject + verb).

Example:
Direct question: What is he doing? Indirect question: Do you know what he is doing?
Direct question: Where have they been? Indirect question: I wonder where they have been?

Do, does, did
If the direct question contains do, does or did, we omit it in the indirect question.
Example:
Direct question: What do you want? Indirect question: Can you tell me what you want?
Direct question: When did she leave? Indirect question: Do you know when she left?

Yes/no questions
In yes / no questions, we use if or whether and we have to change the word order.
Example:
Direct question: Have you seen my dog? Indirect question: Could you tell me if you have seen my dog?

Exercises:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/312.html
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.inqu.i.htm
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit11/hwy_int_unit11_1/
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.inqu.p.htm

CONDITIONALS (Zero, 1st, 2nd and 3rd)

We use the grammar stuctures "conditionals" when we want to talk about conditions and their results.
There are conditionals to express real-life or probable situations (zero conditional and 1st conditional) and to express unreal, imaginary or improbable situations (2nd conditional and 3rd conditional).

Zero conditional
It is used to talk about what you normally do, or what normally happens in real-life situations. To express something that is always or generally true.

When/If simple present + , + present
or
simple present + when/if present

Example:

• If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
• I get tired if I work too much.
• The water boils if you heat it at 100 ºC

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.zero.p.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.zero.i.htm
http://www.englishmedialab.com/Quizzes/preintermediate/zero%20conditional.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/0cond1.htm

1st conditional

It is used when you have a situation and you are not sure about its result. You express probable and possible results.

If simple present + ,+ future (will, going to, might)
or
future (will, going to, might) + if simple present

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/1cond1.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-1/exercises
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/1cond2.htm

2nd conditional
It is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations, dreams or hypothesis about present situations.


If simple past + , + would/could/ might/should
or
would/could/ might/should + if simple past
Examples:

• If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.
• A: What would you do if you won the lottery? B: I would buy a house
• I would play basketball if I were taller.

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/cond2.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-2/exercises
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-2/exercises?02

3rd conditional
It is used to talk about talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened. Dreams or hypothesis about past situations.

If past perfect + , + would/could/ might/should have + (verb in participle)
or
would/could/ might/should have + (verb in participle) + If past perfect

Examples:

• If she had had time, she might have gone to the party (but she didn't have time).
• I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV. Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment.
• If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money. Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much.

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/3rdconditional.php3
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-3/exercises
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/3cond1.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise1.swf
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise1.swf



2nd conditional (present unreal) vs. 3rd conditional (past unreal)
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditional6.htm
http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/condit3.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/allcnd1.htm

zero, 1st, 2nd and 3rd conditional quiz
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_quiz.htm

1st, 2nd and 3rd conditional quiz
http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/conditionals.php
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/exercises?05
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/exercises?06
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/cat-and-mouse

"used to / be used to/ get used to"

USED TO...

To talk about a past habit.

Structure:

Affirmative: Subject + used to + verb (simple form) + complement.
Negative: Subject + didn't + use to + verb (simple form) + complement.
Question: Wh- + did + subject + use to + verb (simple form) +complement.

Example:

A: What cartoons did you use to watch when you were a child?
B: I used to watch Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball.
A: Oh! I also used to watch Sailor Moon, but I didn't use to watch Dragon Ball.

Practise "used to" in its affirmative, negative and interrogative form.
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/usedto/exercise1.swf
http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/usedto02.html

BE USED TO + (verb+ing)

To talk about a familiar situation.
(The situation can be expressed in past, present or future conjugate verb "be")

Structure:
Affirmative: Subject + (verb "be" in any tense: was, am, will be, have to be...)+ used to+ verb (with -ing)+ complement.
Negative: Subject + (verb "be" in any tense in negative form: wasn't, arent', won't be)+ used to+ verb (with -ing)+ complement.
Question: (auxiliar of the verb "be" in any tense: was, were, is, are) + subject + used to + verb (with -ing) +complement.

Example:

I live in the city and sadly people aren't used to driving carefully they are used to driving as crazy guys!

A: When I lived in japan I was used to eating fish for breakfast but I wasn't used to kissing people to say 'Hello'.
B: Were you used to taking off your shoes every time you get it a house?


Practise used to vs. be used to:
http://www.smic.be/smic5022/used%20to.htm
http://brasyl.co.uk/e-mesh/members/learnerscentre/driving/grammar_use1a.html

GET USED TO+ (verb+ing)

To talk about a strange or unusual situation that is in progress to become easier (The situation can be expressed in past, present or future, conjugate verb "get")

Structure:
Affirmative: Subject + (verb "get" in any tense: got, gets, will get, have to get...) + used to + verb (with -ing) + complement.
Negative: Subject + (verb "get" in any tense in negative form: didn't get, doesn't get, won't get)+ used to+ verb (with -ing)+ complement.
Question: (auxiliar of the verb "get" in any tense: did, do, will) + subject + used to + verb (with -ing) +complement.

Example:

A: I have moved to the city and now I'm getting used to commuting by public transport.
B:Oh, I see. Did you get used to going to your new school?
A: Well, at first it was hard but now I got used to it.

Practise used to / be used to/ get used to...

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/115.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/326.html
http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/used-to_to-be-used-to_ex..htm

Informal discourse markers

TRANSLATION OF ATTITUDE ADVERBIALS AND DISCOURSE MARKERS INTO SPANISH

Hey! I found the translation of some of them. Remember that translations aren't 100% equivalent to the target language.

I hope you find it useful, mind you, we will practise next class! ; )

Admittedly: Hay que reconocer.

After all: después de todo.

All in all: en general.

All the same: de todos modos.

Amazingly / To my amazement: Increíblemente, de modo sorprendente, asombrosamente, para asombro mío.

Anyway: bueno.

As a rule: por lo general.

By and large: por lo general, en general.

By the way: A propósito.

Come to think of it: Ahora que lo pienso, Pensándolo bien

Even so: aun así.

For one thing: Por una parte.

Funnily enough: casualmente, por extraño que parezca.

In (actual) fact: en realidad.

Incidentally: A propósito, por cierto, por casualidad, casualmente.

Mind you: pero bueno; pero claro; fíjate.

Moreover: además.

Much to our disappointment: Para decepción nuestra.

No disrespect to: No es mi intención ofender(lo), sin ánimo de ofender.

Not to speak of: Sin mencionar

Not surprisingly: como es lógico.

Oddly enough: curiosamente, por extraño que parezca,

On balance: bien pensado, tras pensarlo mucho.

On the whole: en general.

On top of that: además.

Plus: además.

Predictably enough: de manera previsible.

Still: de todos modos.

So to speak: Por así decirlo,

Surely: seguramente, sin duda,.

To be (perfectly) honest: Si te digo la verdad.

To be frank: Sinceramente, francamente.

To start with: para empezar.

To put it another way: para decirlo de otra manera.

Ultimately: en última instancia, al final.

Understandably: comprensiblemente.

TRY TO PUT THEM WITHIN CONTEXT!

CHOOSE THREE AND WRITE SOME SENTENCES.

Discourse markers/ Linking words

Discourse Markers

There are many different uses for discourse markers in making an essay cohesive. The following are a few ways they are used.

To introduce ideas:

First of all, to begin/start with, initially, firstly.

To add extra points:

And, also, and then, secondly, additionally, moreover, next, second, in addition (to this), furthermore, further, besides (this), not only…but also, as well as (this), what is more, too, lastly, last but not least.

To add contrasting points:

But, however, on the other hand, while, and yet, despite, in spite of, although, even though, though, nevertheless, regardless (of), on the contrary, whereas, conversely.

To give a time sequence:

After, afterwards, after a while, meanwhile, before, lately, in the past, simultaneously, until, until now, subsequently, earlier, later, previously, prior to that, formerly, presently, thereafter, then, at last, eventually, as long as, next.

To signal causes, effects etc:

So (that), in order to, for the purpose of, then, if, suppose, supposing (that), as a result of, because (of), therefore, consequently, provided/providing (that), unless, even if, only if, otherwise, in that case, thus, in case, in the event that, as long as, due to, seeing that, in view of (this), owing to (this), for this reason.

To conclude:

In conclusion, as has been said/mentioned/noted, as stated, as I have said, finally, to summarise, to sum up, in summary, in short, in other words, in simpler terms.

Now, practise! Check these links!

http://www.bond.edu.au/tls/service/learningsupport/learning/discourse/lesson1.html

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/conjunctions.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/con2.htm

http://englishonline.free.fr/GrammarAndHelp/HowToExpressThoughts/LinkwordsDoc.htm

Avoiding repetition.

Hi Guys!

To avoid repetition in many languages, it is common for words to be missed out (ellipsis or omission) or substituted by other words: pronouns, synonyms.

We use these resources to make comments in conversations and avoid repeating info that has just been given or to shorten our speech when the meaning is clear without saying the complete sentence. Examples:

OMISSIONS

A) I can run long distances without getting tired.
B) You can't (run long distances...),,can you (run long distances...)?

A) Are you going to the match?
B) I'd like to (go)

SUBSTITUTIONS

My father works for a foreign company. He likes his job.

A) I bought my English book in American Bookstore in Polanco.

B) I bought mine in the FESI bookshop.

SYNONYMS

A) Sorry, I haven't got time to talk now.

B) Perhaps we can have a chat later on.

Check this link to have some practice!

http://www.llas.ac.uk/materialsbank/mb061/8.11/index.htm

Writing letters

These are some links with tips, key vocabulary, layouts and rules for writing letters.

Formal letters: http://www.usingenglish.com/resources/letter-writing.html

Informal letters: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12258697/How-to-Write-Informal-Letters

Love parody?

Hi!

I found this cartoon which parodies romantic relationships. Any similarity with the reality is mere coincidence ;D

Only listen for fun while practising English!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmBkpXOP6EY&feature=channel

You can check the other cartoons they're also good.