Interactive modals
Modals
Modals at BBC
BBC radio specials
November 19, 2009
June 13, 2009
May 6, 2009
Reported Speech
Reported Speech: Indirect Speech
For example:
1. Jim said "I like beer".
2. Jim said he liked beer.
Sentence 1 is direct speech, the words in quotes (".....") are the exact words the person said. Sentence 2 is reported speech, this is how you tell somebody about a conversation after it happened.
When reporting speech the tenses of the direct speech usually change:
Said, told and asked are common reporting verbs. We use asked to report questions; I asked him what time the train left. Told is used with an object; Fred told Jill he felt tired (Jill is the object). Said is usually used without an object; Sheila said she was going to work. If we use said with an object we must include to; Ian said to Mary that he'd been to London (we usually use told).
Sometimes we include that in reported statements (NOT questions); he told me that he lived in Greenwich: that is optional; he told me he lived in Greenwich has exactly the same meaning.
We use if when reporting questions that have no question word: "Where do you live?" -> she asked me where I lived; "Have you got a car" -> he asked me if I'd got a car.
Sometimes we need to change words like here and yesterday if they have different meanings at the time and place of reporting: "How long have you worked here?" -> He asked me how long I'd worked there (if reported in a different place); "I arrived yesterday" -> He said he'd arrived the day before (if reported on a different day).
Exercise 1
For example:
1. Jim said "I like beer".
2. Jim said he liked beer.
Sentence 1 is direct speech, the words in quotes (".....") are the exact words the person said. Sentence 2 is reported speech, this is how you tell somebody about a conversation after it happened.
When reporting speech the tenses of the direct speech usually change:
Said, told and asked are common reporting verbs. We use asked to report questions; I asked him what time the train left. Told is used with an object; Fred told Jill he felt tired (Jill is the object). Said is usually used without an object; Sheila said she was going to work. If we use said with an object we must include to; Ian said to Mary that he'd been to London (we usually use told).
Sometimes we include that in reported statements (NOT questions); he told me that he lived in Greenwich: that is optional; he told me he lived in Greenwich has exactly the same meaning.
We use if when reporting questions that have no question word: "Where do you live?" -> she asked me where I lived; "Have you got a car" -> he asked me if I'd got a car.
Sometimes we need to change words like here and yesterday if they have different meanings at the time and place of reporting: "How long have you worked here?" -> He asked me how long I'd worked there (if reported in a different place); "I arrived yesterday" -> He said he'd arrived the day before (if reported on a different day).
Exercise 1
Can, Could, Will be able to
CAN (CAN'T) for present, COULD (COULDN'T) for past and SHALL/WILL (WON'T) BE ABLE TO for future.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
First Conditional
The first conditional is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future.
The structure of a first conditional sentence
A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:
if clause main clause
If you study hard, you will pass the test.
If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:
main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.
We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:
main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.
Using the first conditional
The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future — things which may happen:
Example Explanation
If it's sunny, we'll go to the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.
Paula will be sad if Juan leaves. Maybe Juan will leave — that's possible.
If you cook the supper, I'll wash the dishes. Maybe you will cook the supper — that's possible.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
The structure of a first conditional sentence
A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:
if clause main clause
If you study hard, you will pass the test.
If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:
main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.
We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:
main clause if clause
You will pass the test if you study hard.
Using the first conditional
The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future — things which may happen:
Example Explanation
If it's sunny, we'll go to the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.
Paula will be sad if Juan leaves. Maybe Juan will leave — that's possible.
If you cook the supper, I'll wash the dishes. Maybe you will cook the supper — that's possible.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
April 28, 2009
Relative clauses and Relative Pronouns
Is it the same a relative clause and a relative Pronoun?
No, it's not the same
A relative clause is the subordinate sentence that describes or identifies a noun, and relative pronoun is the word that links two sentences together (one of the two sentences is the relative clause)to make one complex sentence.
For example:
The book is on the table. The book was written by Joyce.
I decide to link these to sentences together and create one complex sentence. It's very easy. I just have to use a relative pronoun.
There are different relative pronouns I can use.
Who: (qui) only used to identify or describe people (never objects!)
Which: (que)used to identify or describe things.
That : (que, el qual, la qual...) used to identify or describe people and things.
Where : (on) uset to identify or describe places.
So, in the example I gave above, the one complex sentence would be:
The book which is on the table was written by Joyce.
The sentence followed by which (which is on the table) is the relative clause.
Exercises to practice with relative clauses and relative pronouns
No, it's not the same
A relative clause is the subordinate sentence that describes or identifies a noun, and relative pronoun is the word that links two sentences together (one of the two sentences is the relative clause)to make one complex sentence.
For example:
The book is on the table. The book was written by Joyce.
I decide to link these to sentences together and create one complex sentence. It's very easy. I just have to use a relative pronoun.
There are different relative pronouns I can use.
Who: (qui) only used to identify or describe people (never objects!)
Which: (que)used to identify or describe things.
That : (que, el qual, la qual...) used to identify or describe people and things.
Where : (on) uset to identify or describe places.
So, in the example I gave above, the one complex sentence would be:
The book which is on the table was written by Joyce.
The sentence followed by which (which is on the table) is the relative clause.
Exercises to practice with relative clauses and relative pronouns
Listening Games
In this link you will find plenty of short listening games. You just have to choose a topic, or picture, and there is a 2-minute listening with questions about it. It's easy, and interesting!
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games.htm
http://www.elllo.org/english/Games.htm
March 27, 2009
How to survive on a desert island
Imagine that you were about to start living on a desert island. What object would you take to help you in your new life?
In this link you will find a listening from the BBC where explorer Pen Hadow explains why he would take a six-inch nail.
In this link you will find a listening from the BBC where explorer Pen Hadow explains why he would take a six-inch nail.
March 23, 2009
Present Perfect Exercises
Here you will find pages where they explain how the Present Perfect works. There are also exercises to practice.
English Page - Present Perfect
- Present Perfect, Statements
- Present Perfect or Past Simple
- Present Perfect Tense
English Page - Present Perfect
- Present Perfect, Statements
- Present Perfect or Past Simple
- Present Perfect Tense
March 18, 2009
Songs - Passive voice
Sweet dreams, by Marilyn Manson:
"Sweet dreams are made of this...
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused"
with the video
Feel, by Robbie Williams:
"Not sure I understand
This road I've been given"
with the video
"Sweet dreams are made of this...
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused"
with the video
Feel, by Robbie Williams:
"Not sure I understand
This road I've been given"
with the video
Songs - Conditionals
Change the World, by Eric Clapton:
"If I could reach the stars I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart so you could see the truth"
with the video
Heavy on my heart, by Anastacia:
"If I could paint a picture of this melody
It would be a violin without its strings...
I never thought that I would touch an angel's wings"
with the video
"If I could reach the stars I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart so you could see the truth"
with the video
Heavy on my heart, by Anastacia:
"If I could paint a picture of this melody
It would be a violin without its strings...
I never thought that I would touch an angel's wings"
with the video
Conditional Interactive exercises
In here you will find exercises to practice the conditional structures.
- conditional structures
- conditionals and modals
- grammar games , mixed conditionals
- if sentences and conditionals, with the song "Painter" by Nora Jones
- conditional structures
- conditionals and modals
- grammar games , mixed conditionals
- if sentences and conditionals, with the song "Painter" by Nora Jones
Passive Voice interactive exercises
In here you will find the links to some webs where you can practice the passive voice.
- passive voice
- passive voice
- grammar games
- passive sentences
- passive 1
- rewrite the sentences using a passive form.
- Harry Potter's passive sentences
- man with a dream
- passive voice
- passive voice
- grammar games
- passive sentences
- passive 1
- rewrite the sentences using a passive form.
- Harry Potter's passive sentences
- man with a dream
March 12, 2009
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