Saturday, 29 November 2014
Monday, 24 November 2014
Active Voice and Passive Voice
Active Voice and Passive Voice
Verbs are either active or passive in voice. In the active voice, the subject and verb relationship is straightforward: the subject is a do-er. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is not a do-er. It is shown with by + do-er or is not shown in the sentence.Passive voice is used when the action is the focus, not the subject. It is not important (or not known) who does the action.
- The window is broken. (It is not known who broke the window, or it is not important to know who broke the window.)
- The class has been canceled. (The focus is on the class being canceled. It is not important to know who canceled it.)
- The passive voice is often used. (The focus is on the passive voice. It is not important to explain who the writer is.)
- That building was built in 1990.
- The car was invented about a hundred years ago.
- I was told that Mary moved to a different country.
- Your business is appreciated.
- She was elected to city council.
- It was rumored that the company would lay off a few people soon.
- It is recommended that the billing process be shortened.
- Sam wrote a letter to Jamie.
- A letter was written to Jamie by Sam.
- The government built a new bridge.
- A new bridge was built by the government.
- I recommend that you apply for this position.
- It is recommended that you apply for this position.
Irregular Verbs
All new verbs in English are regular.
- I photocopied the report.
- She faxed it to me.
- They emailed everybody about it.
- I googled my name and got more than 20 000 responses.
There are approximately 180 irregular verbs. You don't need to learn all of them because some of these are very rare but many others are very useful and you do need to know them.
What's the easiest way to learn them? Some people think you should learn a list 'by heart'. Others think you should not learn them at all – you will just gradually acquire them over time.
One useful method is to note down new irregular verbs as you meet them. It is useful to write these verbs (or any vocabulary you want to learn) in sentences and learn those rather than the individual word.
Which is easier to learn?
What's the easiest way to learn them? Some people think you should learn a list 'by heart'. Others think you should not learn them at all – you will just gradually acquire them over time.
One useful method is to note down new irregular verbs as you meet them. It is useful to write these verbs (or any vocabulary you want to learn) in sentences and learn those rather than the individual word.
Which is easier to learn?
- stick stuck stuck
- I stuck the photo into my album.
Another technique is to classify the irregular verbs into 4 categories.
1. All forms the same
1. All forms the same
- set set set
- cost cost cost
2. Similar sound groups
- beat beat beaten
- eat ate eaten
- blow blew blown
- throw threw thrown
- drink drank drunk
- sing sang sung
- speak spoke spoken
- wake woke woken
3. The second and third forms are the same.
- bend bent bent
- sleep slept slept
- spend spent spent
- bring brought brought
- buy bought bought
- teach taught taught
- have had had
- pay paid paid
- say said said
4. The "unclassifiables"
- come came come
- do did done
- go went gone
- show showed show
Present Simple
We use the present simple to talk about actions we see as long term or permanent. It is a very common and very important tense.
Here, we are talking about regular actions or events.
- They drive to the office every day.
- She doesn't come here very often.
- The news usually starts at 6.00 every evening.
- Do you usually have bacon and eggs for breakfast?
Here, we are talking about facts.
- We have two children.
- Water freezes at 0° C or 32° F.
- What does this expression mean?
- The Thames flows through London.
Here, we are talking about future facts, usually found in a timetable or a chart.
- Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year.
- The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
- Ramadan doesn't start for another 3 weeks.
- Does the class begin at 10 or 11 this week?
Here, we are talking about our thoughts and feelings at the time of speaking. Although these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the present continuous.
- They don't ever agree with us.
- I think you are right.
- She doesn't want you to do it.
- Do you understand what I am trying to say.
Use of I'm
I'm
I'm' is an abbreviation for the word 'I AM.' It is used in combination with other words to tell someone about yourself or to describe something you are doing.Here are some examples:
"I'm so tired."
"I'm confused."
"I'm happy."
"I'm twenty three years old."
"I'm hungry."
"I'm nervous."
"I'm excited."
"I'm leaving work."
"I'm thirsty."
"I'm from Seattle."
You can also add descriptive words with 'I'm' such as:
"I'm extremely tired."
"I'm very happy."
"I'm terribly hungry."
"I am super excited."
"I'm very nervous."
Saturday, 22 November 2014
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
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