On, In or At

If I asked you what you find most difficult in English, I'm sure most of you would answer unanimously: PREPOSITIONS!

Well, this entry will try to help you with three prepositions of time, which you are familiar with but sometimes you find them a bit confusing. These prepositions are ON, IN and AT.

Check the mind maps below and then try to complete the sentences. 

Don't forget that the days of the week are written in capital letters.

 

The months of the year are also written in capital letters.

Remember that we say "at night" although it's a part of the day.

Complete the sentences with one of these prepositions to check if you understood.

1. I'm writing some examples _____ the moment.

2. As soon as I finish this entry, I'm going out to do the shopping. I'll be back _____ half an hour.

3. The academic course begins _____ October and finishes _____ 31st May.

4. I like walking round El Espinar _____ midday when it's warm and sunny.

5. _____ a few days' time the second term will be over.

6. We won't have classes _____ Easter but you are supposed to do some homework _____ the afternoons.

7. The classes at the Official School of Languages start _____ five o'clock and finish _____ about nine.

8. Not many pupils attend classes _____ Friday afternoons and evenings. ;-)

9. Mark and Allie always go out for a meal _____ their wedding anniversary.

10. I'll see you _____ the morning.

Is it easy or difficult? As always, it's a question of practice. The key to these sentences is on the first comment. Then leave your opinions or examples to show that you got it!

Making Up Stories

Last Friday, after the storytelling show we were reviewing the parts of a story and some fictional characters who are present in our everyday language. As part of the practice, pupils in 2NI had to write a short story with the different  parts: introduction, background, problem, resolution and a final comment or moral. These are the stories they came up with.

• Enrique, Esperanza and Mª Angeles wrote this story about a proud achievement.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who didn’t like helping her mother at home because she preferred to play with her dog so her mother was upset with her.

Suddenly, one day her mother got very ill. She was lying in bed when the doctor came. He told the girl that her mother should rest for a month.

The little girl realised she wasn’t able to do anything by herself because she never listened to her mother. She thought about what to do for a long time and finally she decided to apologise to her mother and asked for help.

She began to do the housework although she didn’t do it very well. Every day she was improving and her mother was proud of her.

Since then, the little girl helps her mother every day and both of them are very happy together.

You should listen to your parents and help them at home because one day you’ll have to do many things by yourself.

• This is an “overcoming-prejudice” story by Inma, Miguel and Vanessa.

Once upon a time, in a very near land there lived a beautiful girl, who liked sports a lot. One day she wanted to play with the boys but they didn’t allow her to do it. So she cut her hair and dressed in her brother’s clothes and told the boy that her name was Jack.

She started to play with the boys and  she did it very well, so she became really popular.

When the children realised that Jack was actually a girl, at first they felt annoyed but in the end, they allowed her to play because they needed her to win the match.

Give up your prejudices. It’s better to play together.

• Andrea, Ceci and Marian tell us this story whose title is “Phineas’ Dream”

Once upon a time in a faraway land there lived a very little mouse called Phineas, who wanted to drive a little fast car.

Then, he left his house and found a place where there were a lot of cars parked, which seemed to be abandoned. Phineas decided to drive one of them.

While he was trying to start the engine, suddenly he heard a big noise and he became really frightened so he hid under the seat.

The big noise was made by his mother who was knocking on the door to wake him up. Phineas realised that it had been only a dream so he felt relaxed.

• Carmen, Irene and Jose enlighten us with “The Slave Horse”

Once upon a time a little horse lived in a farm. He was very sad because he was tied.

Every day he saw a group of horses running in front of him, but he couldn’t run with them because he was tied. He dreamt of being free one day.

A few years later, someone cut its chains and then the other horses started running in front of him. However, he didn’t try to run after them.

After being tied for so long, he didn’t dream about being free any more because if you have been a slave for many years, you won’t be able to be free.

• And finally, Alba and Santi wrote this blood-curdling story.

It was a dark and cold night when suddenly a strong noise scared me.

I went towards the desk to pick up a candle to check what was going on outside. I went downstairs carefully. Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the living room. Someone had broken into my house! So I went upstairs as fast as I could to pick my rifle. I decided to wait for the burglar in the shadow and close the door. The footsteps were closer and closer. As I put a finger in the trigger, the stranger entered the room. Then, I pulled the trigger and blew his head off.

I was still for a couple of minutes. Then I reached the corpse and looked at his face. That’s when I realised he was …

Well, thanks for your stories and make us consider some aspects of our human condition. It was worth practising. 

Did you like them? Would you like to tell us your story? Feel free to post it. We are looking forward to reading it.

Do vs. Make

Today, the difference between these two verbs, do and make. They have very similar meanings, and it is sometimes difficult to choose between them.

When we talk about an activity without specifying what it is, we tend to use do.

-         What are you doing? I’m doing nothing.

-         I’m not sure what to do about it.

Do is used to talk about work and what I usually call “boring and repetitive activities”.

-         I don’t mind doing the housework but I hate doing the cooking and shopping.

-         Don’t forget to do your homework.

Make is often used to express the idea of creation or “more productive activities”.

-         Let’s make a plan for next weekend!

-         Christine has just made another delicious carrotcake.

Study the diagrams below.

Common expressions with the verb DO

Common expressions with the verb MAKE

In some cases, there are no clear rules. If you are not sure about which verb you have to use, choose make –it’s more likely to be right.

Let's do a bit of practising!  Make an effort and try to give the correct answers. Don't forget to use the verb in its correct form.

1. I enjoy _____ these exercises a lot. They help me improve my English.

2. I've spent the whole morning at home. I _____ the ironing, I _____ the beds and I've just _____ a birthday cake for my sister. 

3. My neighbour upstairs is always _____ noise in the middle of the night.

4. The athlete _____ a decision. He was going to ____ an attempt to raise money for the poor countries in Africa and Asia.

5. He has _____ sport since he was at school. He's really keen on it.

6. "_____ me a favour, will you? Could you please _____ an appointment with the dentist for me?"

7. In a few weeks' time, you will be _____ your final exams so _____ a big effort and study harder.

8.  I do hope you have _____ some progress with this entry.

 

The answers, as always, on the first comment. 

Another vs. Other

The difference between these two words is really simple, however hard it seems to be for you all. Let’s see if this entry can help you with it.

ANOTHER is normally followed by a singular noun. Look at the photos.

I've got a grammar book, which I highly recommend.

I've got another grammar book to recommend.

However, another can be followed by a number with a plural noun or by few.

For example,

-         You will find another three examples in the exercise below. (= You will find three more examples in the exercise below.)

-         You can do another few exercises from the grammar book English Grammar in Use.

OTHER is followed by a plural noun. 

For example,

But I've got other grammar books with lots of activities to  do.

Other can also be used as an adjective, it has no plural form. OTHERS is a pronoun, which means other ones or other people.

For example,

-         Where are the other grammar books?

-         Can you tell the others that I’ll be spending the weekend here?

Let’s consider some sentences!

1. (In a clothes shop) I love that sweater. Have you got any _____ colours?
2. (At the restaurant) Can I have _____ bottle of water, please?
3. (A pupil at the school) I wish I had _____ few weeks to study before doing the final test.
4. (In our classroom) We need _____ chair here.
5. (At the garage) I’m afraid you will have to buy _____ car. This is very old.
6. (At the office) Some employees are working hard these weeks, _____ aren’t.
7. (At the travel agent’s) We can offer you _____ destinations, which I’m completely sure you’ll love.
8. (The teacher) We can continue practising _____ day if you need it.

The key is on the first comment. How well did you do it?

The Importance of Punctuation

Hi everyone,

Have you realised the importance of punctuation when writing a composition? Sometimes you complain about it but punctuating correctly gives meaning to your writings. Here’s an example taken from an old magazine, whose reference I don't remember.

 

I want to rub all your mistakes out with my (c)Factis rubber

  Version 1:

Dear John, 

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy -will you let me be yours? 

Gloria

Version 2:

Dear John,

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy.

 Will you let me be? 

Yours,

Gloria 

Is this a love letter in both cases or not?

Leave your comments and tell me the differences you spot in both versions.

Exam Hangover

Hi guys,

After all these days doing, correcting, discussing and complaining about exams, it's high time all of us start thinking about how to improve our exam results. 

Let's start with pronunciation!

I've been surfing the Net. Obviously there's a great deal of good stuff but as I had to opt for something to involve you all in your own autonomous learning, here's a link to 50 Difficult Words to Pronounce. You can listen to the words, you have an example and you can repeat it as many times as you want, trying to utter it as accurately as possible.

Source: malayaIamteacher.com

If you want to improve your oral skills, you should be aware of the difficulty of producing some sounds and the need to know how to pronounce them in different words in order to understand what is said to you and be understood in your turn. Then we need to know which part of that word should receive the heaviest emphasis because stress can change the meaning of phrases, sentences and questions with terrible results in the process of communication. Finally, you mustn't forget that intonation is clearly important as well.

Well, I really hope you find it useful and start practising straight away.

Leave your comments if you found it helpful or not.