Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for English

When I was on the train yesterday, I heard someone say this: “Someone left their bag on the train.”

Can you find anything wrong with the sentence?

If you looked in a traditional English grammar book, you would learn that the sentence should be, “Someone left his bag on the train.” The rule is to use the singular pronoun “he” when the gender of a person is not known.

But, if you asked native English speakers if there is something wrong with the sentence, many would probably answer no.

The pronoun “their” is generally plural. The speaker was talking about just one person. However, American English speakers use “their” and “they” as singular pronouns all the time in spoken English. They use it when the gender of a person is... Continue reading "The Evolution of 'They': A Singular Pronoun's Journey" »

Gulliver's Travels (1726), a prose satire by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Part III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan

Chapter 1: Pirates and the Floating Island

Gulliver prepares to set out for the East Indies. On the voyage, pirates attack the ship. Gulliver hears a Dutch voice among them and speaks to the pirate in Dutch, begging to be set free. A Japanese pirate tells them they will not die, and Gulliver tells the Dutchman that he is surprised to find more mercy in a heathen than in a Christian. The Dutchman grows angry and punishes Gulliver by sending him out to sea in a small boat. Gulliver finds some islands and goes ashore on one of them. There he sees a landmass dropping down from the sky and notices that... Continue reading "Gulliver's Travels Part 3: Laputa Summary" »

Tom King is a big brute of a man who looks every inch the champion prizefighter he was twenty years ago. Times are harder now. He seldom gets a good match and even has trouble finding work on the docks. As the story opens, Tom is finishing a meager meal of flour gravy and bread. He had been craving a piece of steak since the morning, and his poor wife had tried to get meat from the local butchers, but they refused her credit. She purchased the bread with their last few shillings and borrowed the flour from a neighbor. There is no food in the house. She eats nothing herself and has sent their two children to bed without supper. She knows that Tom needs all the nourishment he can get. In less than two hours, he will be fighting a younger man... Continue reading "The Aging Boxer's Last Stand" »

Understanding Tense Changes in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to reported (or indirect) speech, verb tenses often shift backward. This process is known as "backshift." Below are common tense transformations:

The Pit and the Pendulum

PREGUNTA A

Prince Prospero

1. Prince Prospero invited... C. He thought that they would
2. When the stranger arrived... A. the guests were horrified
3. When the prisoner in The Pit... B. He could see nothing because
4. At the very end of The Pit... B. Was saved from death at the last moment
5. Monsieur Dupin knew... C. The fingerprints and hair that were found
6. When the orangutan saw... A. He suddenly became scared.

PREGUNTA B

1. Reading
2. Evil
3. Dizziness
4. Was held
5. Struck
6. Has been condemned
7. Slimy
8. Glimmer
9. Grope
10. Fate
11. Skills
12. Which
13. Scratches
14. Bruised
15. What makes of it all?

PREGUNTA C2

The Theme of The Pit and the Pendulum

The theme of The Pit and the Pendulum is man's inhumanity to man. How is this theme shown in the story? Quote examples from the text to support your answer.... Continue reading "The Pit and the Pendulum: Analysis & Comprehension" »

Writing

The development of technology and communications during the last decade of the 20th century has significantly influenced our lives. It has revolutionized the way we work, learn, and communicate. The internet, in particular, has dramatically changed our lives, bringing both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Computing

The primary advantage of computing is its ability to provide quick and easy access to information. It also enhances efficiency in various tasks. Furthermore, technology improves the lives of those with limited opportunities and access to education, contributing to the development of underprivileged or isolated regions worldwide.

Disadvantages of Computing

On the other hand, there are disadvantages. The changing world... Continue reading "Impact of Technology and the Keys to Personal Health" »

The Stars Look Down

Hold me gently

Hold me high

Under darkness

We will fly

Been rejected

Been outcast

We come to rest at last

We will never walk alone

Back to our home

At their reflection

There's a light

See the struggle

At all the pain

Light shines again

We'll stand as one

All out together

All out as one

All out for victory

'Til we've won

All out together

All out as one

All out for victory

'Til we've won

All out together

All out as one

All out for victory

All out 'til we've won

Expressing Yourself

To cheer up the place?

Get some earrings

You will start to feel a different man

What's wrong with expressing yourself?

If you put on a dress?

What's wrong with expressing yourself?

What's wrong with wearing a dress?

You try to impress

Learn to care less

Sing something to me

What's wrong... Continue reading "Billy Elliot the Musical: Lyrics and Story" »