This new page will be my class diary. Here you'll find more information about what goes on in class each day and what to expect in the following classes.
You can find this term's handouts HERE
May 12
Some links to practive the passive voice in English
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/reading/exercises/dogqz.htm (a little difficult!)
http://www.eslgo.com/quizzes/raiderspassive.html
April 13
As today's worksheet was too difficult for you (my mistake!), I'll give you a new, easier one on Thursday.
Here's a link to a thread on the wordreference forum about when to omit the relative adverbs. The last reply is excellent. It explains very well the use and omission of the relatives.
Actually, here's the post I'm talking about, I've c0pied it for you:
"Relative pronouns can be deleted only under the following condition: it serves as the object of a verb or a preposition in a restrictive clause. For example:
"My dad still owns the car that he bought in high school."
(Original clause: He bought it in high school.)
"My dad still owns the car he bought in high school."
"The suit in which he was married was his cousin's."
(Original clause: He was married in it.)
"The suit he was married in was his cousin's."
Now you can see the problem with trying to delete the relative adverb in this sentence.
"The building where I work is close to the station."
(Original clause: I work there.)
'There' doesn't function as the object of either the verb or a preposition (it's an adverb) so it cannot be omitted.
HOWEVER, sometimes you CAN omit relative adverbs if the relative clause occurs at the end of the sentence and the meaning of the sentence will still be readily understood. Examples:
"The office is the place where you spend most of your life."
(Original clause: You spend most of your life there.)
"The office is the place you spend most of your life."
"There are times when I regret my decision"
(Original clause: I regret my decision then.)
"There are times I regret my decision. "
In general, eliminating the relative adverb in this way creates a much more emphatic sentence.
Oh, and Hockey13 was totally wrong. The following sentence is grammatically correct both prescriptively and descriptively.
"This is the village where I was born."
Original components:
"This is the village."
"I was born there/here." ('there/here' refers to the location of the village)
A village is a location and can therefore be referred to adverbially with 'there.'
People often mistakenly use "where" in cases like the following:
"I can't remember the TV show where I saw that."
Using "where" is inappropriate in this case because a TV show is not a location. Breaking the sentence down to its original components:
"I can't remember the TV show."
"I saw that there." (What location does 'there' refer to in the original clause?)
Therefore the following is more appropriate for academic writing:
"I can't remember the TV show on/in which I saw that."
Original clauses:
"I can remember the TV show."
"I saw that on/in it." ('it' refers to the TV show)."
April 12
I've made a presentation about defining relative clauses. I hope you find it helpful.
March 11
These are the links I'm suggesting to prepare yourselves for the BIG DEBATE : MEN vs WOMEN:
Men vs Women: A Debate on line
THE SCIENCE OF GENDER AND SCIENCE: A Harvard debate
Another debate on line
At Colleges, Women Are Leaving Men in the Dust :An interesting article.
Women in school are quieter?: Another article
A forum where students are debating the topic.
They are very high level so don't despair. If you don't understand much of that, try googling the topic yourselves.
March 4
Worksheet : More about Modals.
Homework: exercise on that worksheet. Student's book, p.74 ex. 3&4
March 2
Homework: Student's book p.65 ex. 7&8
p.70 ex. 4,5&6
February 25
Homework: Write examples of the different uses of the modals we've seen. Include examples of have to, don't have to, be able to, be allowed to. (For Tuesday)
Have a very nice long weekend!
February 23
We've been doing some reading (teenage problems) and a few of you (very few) commented on the texts. We may continue the debate on Thursday if we have time, as we have to get ready for the games.
I also handed out a modal verbs sheet. Have a look at it, we'll see them after the holiday. Both the texts and the modal verbs sheet can be found here.
February 18
We finished the personal pronouns sheet and we'll correct the indefinite pronouns one tomorrow. Remember some of you will be doing their presentations tomorrow too.
We worked with the song Everybody Hurts by REM. Here's the video:
You can find this term's handouts HERE
May 12
Some links to practive the passive voice in English
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/reading/exercises/dogqz.htm (a little difficult!)
http://www.eslgo.com/quizzes/raiderspassive.html
April 13
As today's worksheet was too difficult for you (my mistake!), I'll give you a new, easier one on Thursday.
Here's a link to a thread on the wordreference forum about when to omit the relative adverbs. The last reply is excellent. It explains very well the use and omission of the relatives.
Actually, here's the post I'm talking about, I've c0pied it for you:
"Relative pronouns can be deleted only under the following condition: it serves as the object of a verb or a preposition in a restrictive clause. For example:
"My dad still owns the car that he bought in high school."
(Original clause: He bought it in high school.)
"My dad still owns the car he bought in high school."
"The suit in which he was married was his cousin's."
(Original clause: He was married in it.)
"The suit he was married in was his cousin's."
Now you can see the problem with trying to delete the relative adverb in this sentence.
"The building where I work is close to the station."
(Original clause: I work there.)
'There' doesn't function as the object of either the verb or a preposition (it's an adverb) so it cannot be omitted.
HOWEVER, sometimes you CAN omit relative adverbs if the relative clause occurs at the end of the sentence and the meaning of the sentence will still be readily understood. Examples:
"The office is the place where you spend most of your life."
(Original clause: You spend most of your life there.)
"The office is the place you spend most of your life."
"There are times when I regret my decision"
(Original clause: I regret my decision then.)
"There are times I regret my decision. "
In general, eliminating the relative adverb in this way creates a much more emphatic sentence.
Oh, and Hockey13 was totally wrong. The following sentence is grammatically correct both prescriptively and descriptively.
"This is the village where I was born."
Original components:
"This is the village."
"I was born there/here." ('there/here' refers to the location of the village)
A village is a location and can therefore be referred to adverbially with 'there.'
People often mistakenly use "where" in cases like the following:
"I can't remember the TV show where I saw that."
Using "where" is inappropriate in this case because a TV show is not a location. Breaking the sentence down to its original components:
"I can't remember the TV show."
"I saw that there." (What location does 'there' refer to in the original clause?)
Therefore the following is more appropriate for academic writing:
"I can't remember the TV show on/in which I saw that."
Original clauses:
"I can remember the TV show."
"I saw that on/in it." ('it' refers to the TV show)."
April 12
I've made a presentation about defining relative clauses. I hope you find it helpful.
March 11
These are the links I'm suggesting to prepare yourselves for the BIG DEBATE : MEN vs WOMEN:
Men vs Women: A Debate on line
THE SCIENCE OF GENDER AND SCIENCE: A Harvard debate
Another debate on line
At Colleges, Women Are Leaving Men in the Dust :An interesting article.
Women in school are quieter?: Another article
A forum where students are debating the topic.
They are very high level so don't despair. If you don't understand much of that, try googling the topic yourselves.
March 4
Worksheet : More about Modals.
Homework: exercise on that worksheet. Student's book, p.74 ex. 3&4
March 2
Homework: Student's book p.65 ex. 7&8
p.70 ex. 4,5&6
February 25
Homework: Write examples of the different uses of the modals we've seen. Include examples of have to, don't have to, be able to, be allowed to. (For Tuesday)
Have a very nice long weekend!
February 23
We've been doing some reading (teenage problems) and a few of you (very few) commented on the texts. We may continue the debate on Thursday if we have time, as we have to get ready for the games.
I also handed out a modal verbs sheet. Have a look at it, we'll see them after the holiday. Both the texts and the modal verbs sheet can be found here.
February 18
We finished the personal pronouns sheet and we'll correct the indefinite pronouns one tomorrow. Remember some of you will be doing their presentations tomorrow too.
We worked with the song Everybody Hurts by REM. Here's the video:
February 16
Personal pronouns (including reflexive and reciprocal) and indefinite pronouns.
2 Worksheets
This term handouts are available here
