MAKE OR DO??

PRACTISE AND HAVE FUN!

http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/makeordo.htm

Verb patterns

1. What are verb patterns?

Sometimes in a sentence, one verb follows another. For example, I want to buy an electric car. The first verb is 'want', the second verb is 'buy'.

In sentences like this, there are different possible patterns. For example:

(a) I want to buy an electric car.

(b) I hate driving.

In sentence A, the first verb is followed by an infinitive (to + verb).

In sentence B, the first verb is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).

The verb patterns are dependent upon the first verb. There are several different types of pattern. When you learn a new verb, you need to learn the verb pattern. Unfortunately, some verbs have more than one possible pattern! Sometimes, if a verb has two patterns, each pattern can have a different meaning or use.

Here are examples of some of the patterns:

Verb Pattern	Structure	Examples
verb + infinitive	This is one of the most common verb combination forms. ( want, hope, decide, agree..)	I waited to begin dinner. They wanted to come to the party.
verb+ verb (ing)	This is one of the most common verb combination forms. (enjoy, mind, consider ...)	They enjoyed listening to the music. They regretted spending so much time on the project.
verb + verb (ing) OR verb+ infinitive - no change in meaning	Some verbs can combine with other verbs using both forms without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. (start, begin...)	She started to eat dinner. OR She started eating dinner.
verb +verb (ing) OR verb+infinitive - change in meaning	Some verbs can combine with other verbs using both forms. However, with these verbs, there is a change in the basic meaning of the sentence. (regret, stop...)	They stopped speaking to each other. => They don't speak to each other anymore. They stopped to speak to each other. => They stopped walking in order to speak to each other. I regret to tell you this =>I am sorry to tell you this I regret leaving London => I left London in the past, and I am sorry that I did that
verb+object+ infinitive	This is the most common form when a verb is followed by both an object and a verb. (want, need, ask, beg...)	She asked her to find a place to stay. They instructed them to open the envelope.
verb+object+base form (infinitive without 'to')	This form is used with a few verbs (let, help and make).	She made her finish her homework. They let him go to the concert. He helped him paint the house.

To have the a list of verb patterns check the appendix in your student book

2. How can I learn them?

PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE....
This could be:
a) Read texts paying attention to the verb patterns and underline them,
b) Write sentences that are significant for you (funny sentences or sentnces about your friends and family) so they will be easy to remember,
c) Do exercises on line.
e) Carry a photocopy and study it when commuting by metro or microbus :D

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=verb-patterns
http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/headway/intermediate/a_grammar/unit06/hwy_int_unit06_2/
http://www.learn-english-today.com/wordgames/hotpot-quizzes/verb-patterns1.html

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.

Avoiding repetition - synonyms.

Synonyms are different words (or sometimes phrases) with identical or very similar meanings.

When you create sentences, you can make them more interesting by using words that mean the same as the word you are speaking about. This allows you to add variety to your vocabulary.

Here are some tips to use synonyms properly.

1. Step 1

   Use synonyms to add flavor to your writing. Your writing can sound boring if you use the same words over and over.

2. Step 2

   Fix the following sentence by changing the second word house to home. For example, "I live in a nice house and my house is in Canada." Change the second house to home and the sentence sounds much better. "I live in a nice house and my home is in Canada."

3. Step 3

   Exchange common nouns for a synonym when you want to be more specific. For example, you talk about a dance in a sentence like the following sentence: I like to dance every weekend. You can be more specific if you say "I like to waltz every weekend."

4. Step 4

   Check the meaning of the synonyms you use in a dictionary so you don't use the wrong word by accident.

5. Step 5

   Use a thesaurus to pick synonyms to enhance your writing. Look up the word you want to change and choose from the list of synonyms.

6. Step 6

   Find a thesaurus online or in a word processing program if you are writing on a computer. Open Microsoft Word. Select your word, click "Tools" on the menu bar at the top of your screen and choose "Language" and "Thesaurus." The computer will present you with a list of words you can substitute for your own word. Choose from the list to switch words.

7. Step 7 (and the most important)
   

When choosing a synonym consider stylistic, regional, emotional, or other differences.
Some words are only used in formal or informal context, or they may vary the content!


GAMES:

-To win it you must be effective and fast!

http://www.scholastic.com/wordgirl/synonym_toast.htm


- In this game you can also listen to the pronunciation of the words.

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/synsam.html

POST YOUR SYNONYMS AND EXEMPLIFY THEM!

1. Write the word and its category (adjective, verb, noun, adverb) and definition
2. Write the synonyms
3. Write a sentence to put them whithin a context

Example.

SKILLED (adj.)
Having or showing a specialized ability or training.

SYNONYMS: talented/ expert/ competent/ proficient/ accomplished/ trained/ skilful/ be a dab hand at

"She is not only a skilled painter, she is also an accomplished piano player."