Learning English

Rewrite the sentences in the following exercise. Do not use “ask, say, tell” as reporting verbs. I´m giving you a list of other possible reporting verbs you could use. Good luck!

Reporting verbs:

Offer, warn, suggest, apologize, promise, admit, deny, request, beg, accuse, refuse, invite, agree, thank, advise, forbid, insist, ask, decide, announce

Jenny, don´t lean out of the window! It´s dangerous

I´m sorry I didn´t phone last night

We won´t stay long

You didn´t report the accident to the police

You shouldn´t eat so much red meat

Why didn´t you take them to the film?

I can´t stand discos

You could take them to a film

Martin. Leave the room immediately!

Clive, you took the money

Gill, would you like to come sailing at the weekend?

Gill, would you like a cup of tea?

I´m sorry I´m late, Mrs Prentice

Let me help you carry your bag

Yes, you are absolutely right. I must take another assistant

Oh, what lovely flowers, Sue! It´s really sweet of you

A man to me: “ Just don´t park your car in front of my gate again, ok?

I think it is important that you get a good solicitor, Nigel

Put your coat on. It´s cold outside

Please, study the irregular verbs for next week

Do you want me to cook dinner tonight?

What time is it?

Don´t eat that mushroom. It´s poisonous.

You must tell them the truth

You should relax

Yes, I broke the window

You broke the window

I´ll write to you

Ok, I´ll carry the boxes myself

Would you like a lift?

I know! I´ll catch the train

How did you do that

I´ll ring when I get there

Don´t touch that! You´ll get hurt

Why don´t you go and lie down?

Ok. I´ll pay the 10$

I haven´t seen you for a long time

Tomorrow I´m leaving for the States

Did you go out last night?

Where are you going to spend the summer?

How about playing a game of tennis?

Could you please phone the bank?

Please, please, sir, save the life of my child

Let´s order hamburgers instead of Indian food

Would you like to stay for supper?

Please, let´s not quarrel anymore

Daddy, don´t forget to post the parcel, please

Will you let me take the car tonight?

Sorry, but I won´t give you a lift home

I didn´t leave the window open!

conjunctions

2009-01-23T09:46:00.003+01:00

http://images.google.es/imgres?imgurl=http://www.openlearningcenter.com/learning/images/Conjunctions.GIF&imgrefurl=http://www.openlearningcenter.com/learning/grammar/Conjunctions.htm&usg=__eR5vPZWmZ82TIc5bgZMtdDYqyxI=&h=242&w=531&sz=17&hl=es&start=1&tbnid=xLtOcs7VtPnx5M:&tbnh=60&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dconjunctions%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Des%26sa%3DG

Theory on conjunctions

http://www.corollarytheorems.com/Grammar/conjunction.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blcourses_advanced_grammar.htm
(grammar in general, many links)

http://www.esltower.com/GRAMMARSHEETS/conjunction/conjunctions.html

Time Clauses

2008-12-16T06:58:00.002+01:00

http://www.tillyer.net/GLOW/fsi101.htm (grammar)

http://english.baladre.org/sedaviwebfront/timeclause1.htm (one exercise)

http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/time1.htm (one exercise)

http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/time2.htm one exercise)

http://www.egeacademy.com/blog/exercises/time-clauses-when-as-soon-as-until-if-unless/ (one exercise)

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-36448.php (one exercise)

http://mbonillo.xavierre.com/httpdocs/exercises/bch2/2bch2008/time3.htm (translations from Spanish to English)

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/exercises/index2.html (a little bit of everything and two time-clauses links )

http://mbonillo.xavierre.com/httpdocs/exercises/bch2/2bch2008/time4.htm (some more translations from Spanish to English)

http://www.carmenlu.com/fifth/grammar/adverb_clauses5_1b.html (three exercises to combine sentences)

http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ii142/esl-test.php (one exercise to choose the correct time expression)

A, AN, THE

2008-12-12T09:26:00.008+01:00

When do we use "a/an"? Do I have to omit the article? Why are you using a plural with no article?... If these are some of the questions you have, I suggest you check this grammar link

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/articlestext.htm

and find the answers. Once you have done that, continue with some of the links that will lead you to a variety of graded exercises where you can practise your newly acquired knowledge. Good luck!

http://www.englishpage.com/grammar/Articles/Exercises/
(exercises)

http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exercises/main/grammar.html
(exercises)

http://www.agendaweb.org/grammar/articles.html
(graded exercises)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslartEX1.html
(exercises)

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/nouns_articles/article_the3.htm
(article or no article)

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/lefg1_mixedarticles1.html
(article or no article)

Reported Speech

2008-12-10T12:35:00.002+01:00

Last schoolyear I never took the time to include reported speech in a separate entry, so it gets difficult to remember which of the pervious entries included a a grammar link in which you could practise a little bit of everything -reported speech too-. As Christmas is nearer and nearer, I´d like to give you an early present... all these links on reported speech!

http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/reported_speech/repspeech.htm
http://valenciaenglish.netfirms.com/reported.htm (grammar)

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omgrammar/vozdirectaeindirecta.htm (grammar)

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/reported.htm (exercises)

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech ( different types of exercises)

http://valenciaenglish.netfirms.com/reportedex.htm (for filling certain types of gaps)

http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/reported2.htm

(to report questions)

http://english.baladre.org/sedaviwebfront/suggestspecial.htm

(rep. verbs others than say, tell, ask)

http://www.esoeonline.org/main-index/index-exercises/grammarexs/int/intreportingverbs2.htm (same as before)

http://www.esoeonline.org/main-index/index-exercises/grammarexs/int/intreportingverbs1.htm (same as before)

http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g11-reporting-verbs-exercise.php

(same as before)

http://www.redcamelot.com/camelot/exercises/SEPT26/Grammar/Reported%20Speech/Level%202.b.htm (what to use after certain reporting verbs)

First Term

2008-12-01T15:13:00.004+01:00

Getting ready for Christmas? Or perhaps you didn´t succeed in your first term exams and you secretly fear tha Santa may walk past your chimney this year? Well, better luck next time! Meanwhile enjoy the first Christmas carroll

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=ip-Ql5FQlhc

Word building

2008-04-30T13:05:00.004+02:00

I suggest you read the information in the link below so that you will find out a few more things about word building. I know you were all ears when we saw this in the classroom, but in case you still have some questions...

http://www.southampton.liunet.edu/academic/pau/course/webesl.htm (things you should know about word building)

Now you can do as many exercises as you want, there´s plenty of them!

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/exercises/230.html

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/wordbuild/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/quiznet/newquiz92.shtml

http://edhelper.com/WordBuilding.htm

http://www.sint-janscollege-meldert.be/html/vakken/eng/wordbuilding.htm

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/wordgames/words-in-a-word.asp

http://www.english-in-chester.co.uk/stayintouch/word-building-english-language-practice_28.html

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/files/teacheng/word_building_2_quiz.pdf

http://www.waylink.co.uk/?page=2210

Don´t tell me you are tired! I still have a box full of links to help you improve your vocabulary in English :)

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/quizview.php?id=371 ( test your knowledge)

http://www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/word/other/prefixes/prefixes.htm

http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/word_parts.html (brief explanation of common roots, prefixes and suffixes.

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000469.shtml
(link incuding different sites with interactive games with prefixes and suffixes)

http://www.grainvalley.k12.mo.us/gvsd/dreamweaver2/prefix.htm

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/prefixsuffix.html

http://www.gamequarium.org/dir/Readquarium/Vocabulary/Suffixes/ (games to practise word building)

Perfect Modals

2008-04-30T11:41:00.009+02:00

There isn´t much left but a few lessons together. I´ll try to give you all the links you may need to help you prepare your third term exam and your final one as well. A first link to read and understand Perfect modals (modal+have+past participle)

http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/alfonsolopez/files/Modal%20Verbs.pdf

And now a few more links where you can practise with them

http://www.aula21.net/segunda/Web-lara/MODAL_PERFECTS.htm
http://ies1libertas.cult.gva.es/departamentos/ingles/PDFs/segundob/emodper2b1.pdf
http://worldofenglish.com/exe.php?Tenses/Modal/modal_perfect.tra
http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/perfmodals1.html
http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/perfmodals2.html

: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )

I wish you were here

2008-04-10T15:09:00.004+02:00

Do you know a group called Incubus? If you don´t, watch them perform I Wish You Were Here in this video

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=JpHFyYrNuuM

and read a bit about them on the first link. I have use the group to illustrate our next grammar topic "wish". Now I know you are ready to practise...

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/wish1.htm

http://www.wordpower.ws/grammar/gramex09.html

http://www.smccd.net/accounts/sevastopoulos/esl/gramcheck/az20_17-33.html

But Incubus was not the only group using "wish" in a song .In 1975 Pink Floyd edited an album called Wish You Were Here which included a song with the same name . See if you like music from the past.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdNnw99-Ic

Determiners

2008-04-10T14:20:00.003+02:00

I often notice that, both in writing and speaking, you tend to use few determiners. I have also noticed that most of the times you tend to use them in exactly the same way you use them in your mother tongue. Perhaps it´s time we paid a little attention to them in English. The first link will lead you to a very good grammar page. Read everything carefully, you´ll certainly be surprised at the amount of things you already know. But I´m sure others will be completely new for you. Once you have understood the grammar, have a go at the exercises... Make sure you learn well those cases in which you omit the determiner or how many different types of determiners there are!

http://www.wordpower.ws/grammar/gramex20.html

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/exlist/list.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/pronouns/possessive_determiners.htm

http://cla.univ-fcomte.fr/english/grammar/05_determiners_articles/index.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/200/grammar/somany.htm

http://www.eslprintables.com/printable.asp?id=33460

http://cla.univ-fcomte.fr/english/grammar/06_determiners_both_all_none/index.htm

Subject-verb inversion

2008-04-08T12:15:00.005+02:00

2nd. Batx. beware!

Last year those pupils taking Selectividad in June had a reading comprehension text called "British pupils among the rudest" in which they had a couple of sentences with subject - verb inversion. As our textbook does not include this grammar point, I have decided to include it here so that you can become familiar with it. I´ll cater for a link with all possible inversion types and some more with exercises.

http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/inversion.htm

In case I can´t find any other links, you may start practising with these sentences:

Now you complete the following sentences with inversions.

1. Not only ……………………..but …………………………………………..as well
2. Nowhere ……………………………………………………………………………
3. Not even once ………………………………………………………………………
4. In no circumstances …………………………………………………………………
5. Seldom ………………………………………………………………………………
6. On no occasion ……………………………………………………………………..
7. So badly ……………………………………………………………………………..
8. Only by (+ gerund) ………………………………………………………………….
9. On no account ……………………………………………………………………….

Easter holiday

2008-04-08T11:54:00.002+02:00

Are you sad because the Easter vacation is over? Don´t be! Before you can count 1, 2, 3... summer will be here and you´ll have the longest school vacation of all. What will you do then? Perhaps follow the Beach Boys´suggestion and surfin´ USA? Here´s the lyrics

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=gbRKfieMsdQ

Reading

2008-03-12T20:29:00.005+01:00

Web page full of stories -some with comprehension exercises, some others not- to enjoy the pleasure of reading. If you are one of those students who think reading is not an enjoyable activity, up to you, but remember the Reading Comprehension in the Selectividad exam if you can´t find a better reason.

http://www.englishclub.com/reading/

And, in case you are a good reader...

http://www.englishpage.com/readingroom/readingroomintro.html (authentic material)

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/reading/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/reading/

http://www.rhlschool.com/reading.htm

http://www.miguelmllop.com/practice/intermediate/readingcomprehension/readingcompindex.htm

http://www.english-area.com/paginas/selectividad.htm#examenes (don´t pay much attention to the marks part or parts of the exam because each community has different criteria and models)

http://www.educared.net/universidad/asp_problemas/problemaslistar.asp?idAsignatura=10

http://www.emes.es/AccesoUniversidad/Selectividad/ModelosdeExamenes/tabid/344/Default.aspx

http://wzar.unizar.es/Servicios/acceso/logse/examenes/examenes.htm

I´ll surely find some more for you, but it will be some other day

Writing

2008-03-12T20:16:00.002+01:00

Surely the part most of you love best. This is a good and complete link about the writing process...

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Getting through the different chapters is a long process, but don´t give up. The more often you visit this link the better writer you will become.

This is another link with several power point presentations on different writing aspects. Have a look at it and see if you can get any ideas!

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm

Gerund? Infinitive? That is the question...

2008-03-12T12:46:00.003+01:00

Are you among those who still don´t know whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after a certain verb? These two links will give you any detail you can think of about the topic

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/ING6.cfm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar_list/gerund_infinitiv.htm

If you already master all the lists of verbs followed by a gerund or an infinitive, you may be interested in some practice. Surf following links, there´s plenty of exercises to do.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund
http://www.quia.com/jq/88783.html http://wwwedu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/projets/anglais/exercises/gerund2.htm

http://academic.cuesta.edu/ahalderma/gerinfinq.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm
http://www.englishforjapanese.com/exercises/verb%20forms/30%20gerund%20inf.html
http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/gerund_infinitive_ex.htm http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/Interactive/gerinfq2.html

Perhaps you´ve done every previous thing, but still have a doubt with a particular verb. This link will work it out....

http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa090999.htm

And if you are still in the mood of working a little bit more... a tutorial on gerund and infinitive

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm

Future Tenses

2008-03-11T12:41:00.002+01:00

In case you don´t remember how to use future tenses or how many possibilities you have to express future in English, the previous link will take you to a page where you can check grammar. Once you have done that, you may feel like surfing the following links and practise what you have learnt....

Don´t forget to have a look at future time clauses, perhaps you don´t know which tenses to use in the main clause or in the time clause.

Oh, you don´t know what time clauses are. Then, you´ll need this link!

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/will_going.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/will_future1.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/future-mix/exercises
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_futureforms.htm
http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d3c10_resources_grammar_advanced_future_simple.htm
http://www.u-aizu.ac.jp/~tripp/fut.html
http://www.aacc.edu/future/exerciseshome.cfm
http://www.eslprintables.com/printable.asp?id=43025
http://moodle.citylit.ac.uk/moodle/file.php/1/Study%20skills%20work%20sheets/grammar/intermediate/Microsoft%20Word%20-%201.13%20FUTURE%20action%20-%20%20Present%20continuous%20Exercises.pdf http://www.wordpower.ws/grammar/gramex07.html

Listening activities

2008-03-05T11:54:00.003+01:00

Learning a foreign language needs listening to that language as much as you can. Our school headmaster has provided us with this link in which you will be able to practise this skill a few times. Enjoy yourself!

http://www.elllo.org/

A very interesting link with lots of listenings for advanced students

http://www.englishpage.com/listening/

Perfect tenses

2008-02-28T11:30:00.004+01:00

Perfect tenses are also one of the items you should learn this year. I´d like to remind you that perfect tenses need participles and that you´ll have no trouble with them if the verb is a regular one, but irregular verbs have irregular past participles. Now you are in trouble if you haven´t learnt them so far!

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/pspp1.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf2.htm
http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/presentp_exc.htm
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/grammar/tense/3.1.xml
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/past_perfect_simple_past.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-perfect-simple/exercises
http://www.eslprintables.com/printable.asp?id=2441

Past Simple and Continuous

2008-02-27T12:35:00.004+01:00

Students´ faces

I know teaching can sometimes have a soporific effect on students, don´t you agree? Believe me if I tell you it has that effect on me, too; but, what can we do? Syllabuses are syllabuses. And then, there are those days, aren´t there? Days on which you would like to be somewhere else with somebody else doing something different - good weather doesn´t help school-. Unfortunately, you´ll have to wait till June to carry out plans other than studying. Meanwhile, I´m sure that sometimes you would like to have a teacher like the one on this video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1029270572519565699&q=gomaespuminglis&total=85&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

And, in case you found it funny, once you´ve stopped laughing you can continue clicking on new grammar links which will pull you through the past simple and continuous

http://ro.zrsss.si/~viljenka/ex_pastcontc.htm
http://www.isabelperez.com/happy/tenses/exercises/pastsimple_conti_2.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro/exercises
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/pastpastcont.html
http://assoc.pagespro-orange.fr/une.education.pour.demain/rodsex/pastcontspast/01.htm
http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz%20center/sppp1.htm http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_past-continuous-quiz.htm

Present Tenses

2008-02-26T11:07:00.003+01:00

Some more grammar to enjoy

Have you ever experienced this feeling before a new structure you have to learn or work with? I advise yo to start little by little so as not to be buried under a pile of execises and I think Present Tenses are a good way to start. Have a go at these links and see how you manage! Good luck!

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/simcon1.htm
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexercise/contenidotematico.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/simpre_prepro.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/simple_present_present_progressive.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/simcon2.htm
http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/presprog.php

Modals

2008-02-24T08:32:00.008+01:00

I know you can, but I´m not sure you will although you certainly must

Hurray! We understand modal verbs!

I am aware that modals are one of those parts you dislike most. I realize that they are completely different from the usage they have in your mother tongue, but I´m also conscious of the benefits of steady work to achieve aims. Here you are provided with plenty of opportunities to click on links to surf on modals steadily so that you your goal -mastering modals- will easily reached.

http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalforms.html
http://eslprograms.vcc.ca/ESLWEB/ESL_Sites/CALL_ONLINE_CENTRE/GramMultiLevel/Modals/modals.html
http://a4esl.org/q/h/0101/ig-modals.html
http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/Modals.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/auxiliary-verbs/exercises
http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/modalex.html
http://joaojardim.no.sapo.pt/the_grammar_corner.htm

Relative clauses? What the hell are you talking about?

2008-02-22T23:48:00.005+01:00

Are they the ones with "who", "which", "whose", etc?. Yes, indeed! And , in case they are not among your favourite ones because there´s always something you can´t manage, here you have plenty of links, enough to become an expert on relative clauses and whatever their secrets may have been so far. Have a go and see what score you get!

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses/exercises
http://valenciaenglish.netfirms.com/relativex.htm
http://valenciaenglish.netfirms.com/relativex02.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adj1.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.relative.i.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.nonrelat.i.htm

Passive Voice

2008-02-21T19:08:00.006+01:00

Grammar is killing me!

Don´t worry! Whether you are in 1st or 2nd Batx. you´ll surely find a useful link where you can practise that structure you can´t master or that one you are not very confident of. Breathe deeply and start clicking on the links, they´ll take you to web pages where you´ll be able to do exercises of almost all kinds. If you can´t find what you need, let me know!

Passive :) I was told the curtain had been broken and I can´t stop wondering who it was broken by

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/reading/exercises/dogqz.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/active-passive.html
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jacek_s/magdak/grammar.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/passive/menu.php

welcome

2008-02-20T07:57:00.001+01:00

Welcome and feel free to use this blog as a tool to show all that English I know you know. I do hope you will find the links helpful and I also hope that you will use them again and again until those grammar structures you are not familiar with will no longer keep secrets for you...

Oh, by the way, let me introduce you to the lady in the fur coat

"Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Cruella de Ville". She will come along with us on this blog every now and then. I love this character and, if something goes wrong and you can´t blame on mambo, you can always put the blame on her, don´t you think?

See if you enjoy the video with her song

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=MHmrxZMVhfU

And if you are interested in the lyrics http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Cruella-De-Ville-lyrics-The-Replacements/BEC28E26DD85770648256FE40008BD85