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

A 1. We saw a man whose dog bit the postman.

2. She lives in that part of Paris where Jean-Paul Sartre was born.

3. He suddenly started shouting, which shocked me.

4. Windsurfing is a popular sport that needs a good sense of balance.

5. She works in Mario's, which is an Italian restaurant.

B 6. As the boy ran out of the house, he was shouting fire.

7. What she really hated was the dessert.

8. It was his appearance that made everyone laugh.

9. Not wanting to dance, I didn't go to the party.

10. I shook hands with her, saying that she was very funny.

C Choose: 11. What I liked about the film was all the funny jokes.

12. Not understanding the joke ...

13. I sold that's the girl...

14. Who tell, she gets angry with ..

15. Made, what... us very sad.... Continue reading "Improve Your Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid" »

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland, to an English family with important connections but little wealth. Through the generosity of an uncle, he was educated at Kilkenny Grammar School and then Trinity College in Dublin. Between 1689 and 1699, he worked as a private secretary to a distant kinsman, Sir William Temple, a retired diplomat. There, he received a first-rate education in politics through contact with Temple and many other well-known politicians, learning much about the vice, hypocrisy, intrigues, deception, and corruption in the political world.

Swift is one of the greatest masters of English prose; his sentences are logical, clear, and well-constructed. He is a master satirist who dared to criticize... Continue reading "Jonathan Swift: Master of Satire and Social Critic" »

Britain: Traditional Stylistic Norms

Feminism

The origins of the second wave of Feminism can be traced back to the 1970s and the 1980s. A great number of women started writing and publishing books about the so-called notion of “Feminity”. Unlike the first wave of Feminism, which was a suffragist movement in which women were asking the right to vote, the second wave of Feminism goes beyond that. The feminist thinkers of the second wave based their theory on gender stereotyping. They claimed that equality between men and women had not been fully achieved because biological sex was the basis to determine the role a man or a woman must play in society.

Angela Carter's The Werewolf and Company of Wolves

The first reason why we can consider these texts as feminist is the issue of “authority

Common English Words and Their Definitions

A

Androgynous

- Partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.

B

Boost

- Help or encourage (something) to increase or improve.

C

Castaway

- A person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an isolated place.

D

Drift

- (Especially of snow or leaves) be blown into heaps by the wind.

E

Elbow

- The joint between the forearm and the upper arm.

Encouragement

- The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.

Entourage

- A group of people attending or surrounding an important person.

Eyebrow

- The strip of hair growing on the ridge above a person's eye socket.

Eyelash

- Each of the short curved hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids, serving to protect the eyes from dust particles.

I

Interviewee

-... Continue reading "Concise Definitions of 30 Common English Words" »

The Organization Chart

The organization chart is composed of the head of the establishment, one head in each section, area supervisors, and trainees or people with temporary reinforcement contracts for campaigns.

Within the company, in each establishment, an estimated number of sales is proposed.

Business Hours

The company opens at ten o'clock and closes at half past nine. During the Christmas season, it closes at ten. On Sundays, it opens from twelve to nine.

In this chart, we can see the busiest hours on Saturdays.

Sales of Music and Films

In my opinion, the sales of music and films have declined due to pirate recordings. However, there are still sales from collectors, such as vinyl records. They were withdrawn but were incorporated back on demand.... Continue reading "Organization Chart and Business Hours" »

Lost Luggage

A: Hello? Is anybody there?

B: Yes, hello. You are talking to Customer Service of the Washington Central Airport. How can we help you?

A: I wish you could. Last Saturday, I came back from Paris on the United Airlines flight at 11:00 PM. Upon arrival, I looked for my luggage, but I never saw it again. What did you do with my suitcase? Did you lose it or something else?

B: Sir, calm down. We didn't lose your luggage. The suitcase could be on the next flight. Wait until then, and if the suitcase doesn't appear, we will talk to the crew.

A: Okay, but I need that suitcase right now. I had the ticket for my next flight in there, and that flight is in 20 minutes.

B: We are so sorry. Okay, we will print the ticket again and we will refund the... Continue reading "Everyday Conversations in English" »

Man: Hello. Can I have your passport, please?

Woman: Yes, here you are.

Man: How many bags are you checking in?

Woman: One.

Man: Did you pack your bag yourself?

Woman: Yes, I did.

Man: And have you got any hand luggage?

Woman: Yes, this bag.

Man: Ok. Here's your boarding pass. You're in seat 16B.

Woman: Is that a window seat?

Man: No, an aisle seat.

Woman: Oh, Ok. Which gate is it?

Man: Gate 12.

Woman: Is the flight on time?

Man: Yes, it is. Boarding is at 15.30. Enjoy your flight.

Woman: Thank you. Bye.