School's Out: March 2009

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Opinion Essey - "The young generation said: With money, we can everything!"

In the world of young people it is commonly applied and approved the concept that wealthy and famous people are happy. Why this concept? The question regards the present way of thinking of the society, completely based on commercial TV proposals and advertisements as well as on the canon of beauty and the interest of people.

In my opinion education is the only solution to this situation. Families and schools must on one side hold on principles and severity, while on the other also allow youngsters to live the present.

It is true that money can help everyone to live better, with all comfort, but the old story “money doesn’t bring happiness” is still true. The most important richness, in the end, is the interior richness.

In conclusion, the “worldly” satisfaction is an element which allows people to feel good with themselves and with other people, but in following the bright lights one mustn’t remain dazzled from them.

Federico

Tuesday 24 March 2009

The Garden Party

Here's the link to the story at Project Gutenberg: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1429/1429-h/1429-h.htm#2H_4_0015)

The writer is Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923)

Thursday 19 March 2009

The structure of the SENTENCE

There are 4 main types of CLAUSES in English:
1) MAIN CLAUSE
2) CO-ORDINATE CLAUSE (AND, BUT, OR, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…NOR)
3) SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
4) ABBREVIATED CLAUSE (WHILE, WHEN, WHERE)

1) The main clause: subj, vb and complements have independent meanings
2) They are linked by a conjunction, may stand alone and have complete meaning:- He runs a lot AND plays a lot of sports
3) They’ve got no complete meaning if they stand alone- Althogh he is tired, he doesn’t want to go to bed
4) The verb is implicit- While in Africa, he wrote a book

SUBORDINATE CLAUSES:

A) CAUSALI (BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF, AS, SINCE, IN CASE, OWING TO, DUE TO, GIVEN, GIVEN THAT)

B) FINALI (TO, SO AS TO + base form, IN ORDER TO/THAT, FOR + obj + infinitive)
C) CONSECUTIVE (SO THAT, SUCH A/AN… THAT)
D) TEMPORALI (WHEN, WHILE, AS, AS SOON AS, UNTIL, TILL, AFTER, BEFORE)
E) CONCESSIVE (ALTHOUGH, THOAUGH, EVEN IF)
F) AVVERSATIVE ( WHILE, WHEREAS, BUT, ON THE CONTRARY)
G) ECCETTUATIVE (BUT, EXCEPT, UNLESS)
H) STRUMENTALI (BY + vb-ing)
I) MODALI (AS, AS THOUGH, AS IF + subj + vb)
J) ESCLUSIVE (WITHOUT + vb-ing)

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Opinion Essay

Link to How to write an Opinion Essay.

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exercise (2)

1. The work was new to me. ____________, it did not seem difficult. (Consequently, Nevertheless)
2. Continue along Queen Street. ____________ turn left. (Then, Therefore)
3. It was very misty. ______________, we could not get a clear view of the mountain. (Hence, However)
4. We had walked several miles. ____________, we did not feel tired. (Accordingly, Still)
5. She is a talented actress. ____________, she is very beautiful. (Moreover, Thus)
6. We take the bus every day. __________, we are familiar with the bus route. (Nevertheless, Thus)
7. The child was sleepy. ______________, we went home early. (Otherwise, Therefore)
8. The food was delicious. _____________, the service was excellent. (Likewise, Nevertheless)
9. We looked everywhere. _____________, we could not find the keys. (However, Thus)
10. The book is long. _____________, the vocabulary is difficult. (Consequently, Furthermore)
11. Luckily, the moon was bright. ______________, we could not have seen the path. (Accordingly, Otherwise)
12. He is old. _____________, his mind is still active. (Nonetheless, Therefore)

Exercise on connectives

1. We stayed up late, ____________ we were tired. (although, despite)
2. They went swimming, ____________ the coldness of the water. (although, despite)
3. I enjoy the course, ____________ the professor is a good teacher. (because, because of)
4. She looks ___________ your sister. (as if, like)
5. Please wait ___________ I make a phone call. (during, while)
6. Did you hear any noises ____________ the night? (during, while)
7. It looked ____________ we would not be able to leave until the next day. (as if, like)
8. We all felt tired ____________ the hot weather. (because, because of)
9. I read a book ___________ I was waiting. (during, while)
10. Her eyes shone _____________ stars. (as if, like)
11. They managed to work together, ___________ their differences of opinion. (although, despite)
12. I left home early, ____________ I had to do several errands. (because, because of)
13. He speaks about the subject ____________ he were an expert. (as if, like)
14. We rested ____________ the hottest part of the day. (during, while)
15. ____________ she lost her way twice, she arrived safely. (Although, Despite)
16. ____________ their interest in comets, they decided to study astronomy. (Because, Because of)