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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Articles / Los Articulos

The = El, La

a / an = un y una

· a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.

· an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

· the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?

· The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

· DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.

· Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean

· DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.

· DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi

Halloween Jokes

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the party?

Because he had no body to go with!


What does a hungry ghost want?
Ice scream!


How do you make a witch itch?
Take away her w


What do monsters call human beings?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner!


What does a witch ask for when she goes to a hotel?
Broom service!

Where do ghosts pick up their mail?
At the ghost office!


What did one ghost say to the other ghost?
Do you believe in people?

What am I ?

I am in your body.
I am red.
I am the symbol for love.
Blood pumps through me.
Please don't break me.


Look for the mistakes (errors)

Look at the copy of an informal e mail below, there are 13 mistakes (errors) See if you can find them.

Hi Lucy,

I’m very happy you’re comeing to visit me. I’m sure we will have a good time. My sister and she are going to collect you from the airport, so you doesn’t have to take a taxi. Don’t worry if you arrive late, we will be there waiting to you.

The weather is hot, so bring some clothes cool, an hat, and sun cream.

You’ll need about 100€ for the week. I’m going to take you to the Science Museum, the london eye and buckingham Palace. They is very interesting places.

I hope you like food English. My mam are an good cook.

See you soon,

Teresa x

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Opportunities to practice English conversation with natives in Caravaca de la Cruz

Watch this post for details of an "intercambio" where you can come to practice speaking in English with natives in Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia.
If you would like more information e mail me on elcentrodeingles@yahoo.com

DO or MAKE

DO or MAKE = HACER

The two verbs 'do' and 'make' are often confused because they both have the same meaning in Spanish, "Hacer". The meanings are similar, but there are differences.

'Do' for Activities

Use the verb 'do' to express daily activities or jobs. Notice that these are usually activities that produce no physical object.

do homework
do housework
do the ironing
do the dishes
do a job

'Do' for General Ideas

Use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, when we do not exactly name an activity. This form is often used with the words 'something, nothing, anything, everything, etc.'

I'm not doing anything today.
He does everything for his mother.
She's doing nothing at the moment.

Important Expressions with 'Do'

There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'do'. These are standard collocations (verb + noun combinations) that are used in English.

do one's best
do good
do harm
do a favour
do business

'Make' for Constructing, Building, Creating

Use 'make' to express an activity that creates something that you can touch.

make food
make a cup of tea / coffee
make a mess

Important Expressions with 'Make'

There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'make'. In a number of cases the verb 'do' seems more appropriate. These are standard collocations (verb + noun combinations) that are used in English.

make plans
make an exception
make arrangements
make a telephone call
make a decision
make a mistake
make noise
make money
make an excuse
make an effort

If you would like to practice when to use "make and do", e mail me and I'll send you some exercises. elcentrodeingles@yahoo.com




Say or Tell

Say or Tell? = DECIR

Say and tell have similar meanings. They both mean to communicate verbally with someone (Decir). But we often use them differently.

The simple way to think of say and tell is:

  • You say something
  • You tell someone something

You say something

You tell someone something

Rachel said that he was tired.

Rachel told Jane that he was tired.

Anthony says you have a new job.

Anthony tells me you have a new job.

Sara said: "I love you."

Sara told John that she loved him.

But, of course, it is not always so easy. Here are a few rules to help you.

Personal object
We usually follow tell with a personal object (the person that we are speaking to).
We usually use say without a personal object:

  • She told me that she loved John.
  • She said that she loved John.
  • He told everybody that he had to leave.
  • He said that he had to leave.

Say "to someone"
With say, we sometimes use "to someone":

  • He said to me that he was tired.
  • Tara said to Ram that he had done very well.
  • Anthony said to her, "I hope you come soon."
  • "I'd like to sleep," she said to him quietly.

Direct speech
We can use say with direct speech. We use tell only with direct speech that is an instruction or information:

  • Amanda said, "Hello John. How are you?"
  • "That's great'" she said.
  • He told her: "Open the door quietly."
  • She told me, "I have never been to England."

We can use say with direct questions, but we cannot use tell:

  • She said: "Do you love me?"
  • The policeman said to the prisoner, "Where were you at 8pm?"

Reported speech
We can use say and tell to talk about reported information:

  • She said that it was raining.
  • She told me that she would call at 2pm.

We cannot use say or tell to talk about reported questions. We must use ask (or a similar verb):

  • She asked if I had ever been there.
  • They asked what I wanted to eat.
  • She asked where he lived.
  • He asked if she wanted to go home.

Orders, advice
We use tell + object + infinitive for orders or advice:

  • She told him to sit down.
  • They told me not to wait.
  • Tell Neil to have a holiday and forget her.

Phrases
Here are a few fixed phrases with tell. We cannot use say with these phrases:

  • tell (someone) a story
  • tell (someone) a lie
  • tell (someone) the truth
  • tell the future (= to know what the future will bring)
  • tell the time (= know how to read a clock)

Right and wrong
Read these examples of correct and incorrect usage:

We cannot...

These are NOT possible...

These are possible...

say someone to do something

Tara said Jo to go away.

Tara told Jo to go away.

say someone something

Lisa said me that she was hungry.

Lisa told me that she was hungry.

tell something

He told that he likes coffee.

He said that he likes coffee.

tell to someone

Tina told to me that she was coming.

Tina told me that she was coming.

Tina said to me that she was coming.

say a lie

Simon always says lies.

Simon always tells lies.

tell somebody "direct speech"
(except instructions and information)

Rachel told Nick: "Let's turn on the TV."

Rachel said to Nick: "Let's turn on the TV."

(Rachel told Nick, "Turn on the TV.")

(Rachel told Nik: "I was born in 1985.")

say or tell a reported question

She said if I wanted to come.

She asked if I wanted to come.

Tina told what I wanted to do.

Tina asked what I wanted to do.

If you want to practice when to use "say and tell" then email me and I'll send you some exercises,

Teresa

English TV channel via internet

Do you want to watch a BBC TV channel 24 hours a day via the internet ?
Then look at this website http://www.filmon.com/tv/index.php

Listen to English radio station in Spain

Do you want to listen to an English radio station in Spain via the internet ?
Then try this www.talkradioeurope.com/ren/listen-now/
It's great listening practice !

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Noche Irlandes

El Centro de Ingles (Caravaca)

The Celt Pub – Los Alcázares (Murcia)

Date : November 2009 (date to be confirmed)

Comida típica Irlandesa

Música irlandesa – en directo

Practica Ingles con nativo Irlandesas y Ingleses

Viaje Caravaca - Los Alcázares (Murcia) por auto-bus

Salimos Caravaca 19:00 (7pm)

Para más información y entradas contacto

Teresa Higgins - El Centro de Ingles

Tel: 666619904 Calle Santa Ana 7

Email: elcentrodeingles@yahoo.com

Blog: www.elcentrodeingles.blogspot.com

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