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

Grammar Review

This section covers essential grammar points for everyday English usage:

• Wish: past simple, past perfect, would
• So+adj+that: such+adj+noun+that
• She takes: it takes her
• Although: despite the fact that
• Too+adj: not+adj+enough
• Unless: if..not
• I would prefer to+inf: I'd rather+inf
• Remember: ing
• Regret+ing: regret to
• Try: ing
• Shouldn't/ought to/had better
• Be about to+inf: on the point of+gerund
• It's time+past simple
• Past simple + ago: have+ed
• To be fond of: like+gerund
• on your own: by yourself
• More than/better than: as..as
• I haven't seen Peter for ages_: It's ages since I saw Peter
• Regret: ing
• Apologise: to+inf
• Mind: ing
• Remember..: forget to
• Don't forget to...her brother said: her brother reminded him to...
• As long as/only if/providing/provided
• They said

Characterization

Definition:

Characterization in literature refers to the step-by-step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of the character.

Example:

Michael Corleone was not just a mafioso, but a family man. A man who walked the knife's edge to preserve his sanity.

Imagery

Definition:

In literature, one of the strongest devices is imagery, wherein the author uses words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader. Imagery helps the reader to visualize more realistically the author's writings. The usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words, and similes, among other literary forms, in order to... Continue reading "Understanding Key Literary Devices" »

The poem “The Happy Warrior” was written by Herbert Read in 1914. An English poet, mostly known for his poems inspired by World War I.

The poem was influenced by his experiences fighting in the war and the time period. It also led him to write many poems with the same subject. Another influential factor was the Modernist Movement in literature.

“The Happy Warrior” is structured in five stanzas of different lengths, totaling 12 lines. The poetic persona of this poem is a soldier referred to as "He". "His wide eyes search unconsciously. He cannot shriek." The description of the soldier is strong, accurately representing the aftermath of committing such a gruesome act. The sarcastic tone in calling the soldier the "happy warrior" serves... Continue reading "The Happy Warrior: A Poem by Herbert Read" »

PHILIP LARKIN:-A Girl in Winter (1957),-The Less Deceived (1955),-New Lines (1956),-The Whitsun Weddings (1964),-High Windows (1974). SAMUEL BECKETT: novels stripped of plot & character development; Symbolic and allegoric:-Molloy (1951),-Malone Dies (1956),-Watt (1958),-The Unnamable (1960),-How It Is (1961),-Imagination Dead Imagine (1965). GEORGE ORWELL:-Homage To Catalonia (1938),-Animal Farm (1945),-Burmese Days (1935),-Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936),-The Road to Wigan Pier (1937). V.S.NAIPAUL:-Miguel Street (1959),-A House for Mr. Biswas (1961),-In A Free State (1971),-A Bend in the River (1979). NADINE GORDIMER:-The Conservationist (1974),-The Pickup (2001). SALMAN RUSHDIE:-Grimus (1975),-Midnight’s Children (1981),-Shame

Audio-Lingual Method

The Audio-Lingual Method is based on behaviorist ideology, which professes that certain traits of living things, and in this case, humans, could be trained through a system of reinforcement. Correct use of a trait would receive positive feedback, while incorrect use of that trait would receive negative feedback.

Aims of the Audio-Lingual Method

1. To enable students to use the target language communicatively and automatically without stopping to think.
2. To help students acquire the structural patterns of the language.

Principles of the Audio-Lingual Method

1. Instructions are given in the target language.
2. Language forms occur within a context.
3. Students' native language interferes as little as possible with the students' attempts to acquire

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action. For example, in the sentence "He hit the ball", the direct object ball received the action of the verb hit.

Examples:

• I baked some cookies.
• I rode the bicycle.
• I moved the chair.
• I stitched a quilt.

Intransitive verbs are action verbs, but unlike transitive verbs, they do not have an object receiving the action. For instance, in the sentence "I sang", there are no words after the verb sang.

Examples:

• I laughed.
• I cried.
• The book fell.
• The horse galloped.
• The sun set.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs (also known as helping verbs) are the verbs be, do, have, and will when they are followed by another verb (the main verb) in order to form a question,... Continue reading "Understanding Verbs, Adverbs, and Other Word Classes" »

Verbs

A verb is one of the main parts of a sentence or question in English.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. They do not express action. Examples include to be (is, being, are, was, were), to become, and to seem.

My cats are content to nap on the couch. After drinking the old milk, Vladimir turned green.

Action Verbs

Action verbs describe what the subject of the sentence is doing.

Sam and Eric ride the bus to school each morning. Jan wants a horse for her birthday. John reads a chapter in his book each night.

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are action verbs that have an object receiving the action. I baked some cookies. I rode the bicycle. I moved the chair. I stitched a quilt.

Rosa Parks

• On January 15, 1955, she was arrested because she did not give up her seat on the bus for a white passenger.
• At 19, she married Raymond Parks, a frisör, and worked at NAACP.
• Rosa worked as a secretary at NAACP and part-time as a seamstress.
• On December 5, 1955, the bus boycott began with Martin Luther King Jr. as the leader.
• The bus boycott led to the lifting of segregation in buses and trains.
• Due to threats, Rosa and her husband moved to Detroit.
• She died on October 24, 2005.

Julia Butterfly Hill

• She is an environmental activist.
• From December 14, 1997, she lived on a tree named Luna for 738 days.
• She demonstrated against deforestation.
• In 1999, an agreement was reached with the company that wanted to cut down the trees in the forest.
• They

Who are Sampson and Gregory?

They are Lord Capulet's servants.

Why are they bored, aggressive, and playful?

Because they like fighting, but now there is peace in Verona, so they have to clean and do things that they don't like.

What is love for them?

Love for them is only sex.

Who is Abram?

He is a Montague's servant.

Who starts the fight? How? Why?

The fight began because Sampson and Gregory wanted to fight with Abram, and Abram started the fight because Sampson and Gregory were causing it.

Who is Benvolio? And Tybalt? Are they Montagues or Capulets?

Benvolio is Lord Montague's, Romeo's cousin. Tybalt is a Capulet and Juliet's cousin. They are enemies because they hate each other and they want to fight.

Why does Tybalt say it is not appropriate for Benvolio

English to Spanish Vocabulary

A Comprehensive Guide

A

Ability - Skill: Habilidad - Destreza

According to: Según

Although: Aunque

Ancient: Antiguo

Aware, Conscious: Consciente, Sabedor

B

Barely - Nearly: Apenas

Beneficial - Positive: Beneficioso - Positivo

Board Games: Juegos de mesa

Boundaries - Limits, Frontier, Borders: Límites, Frontera

Brain: Cerebro

Burial: Entierro

C

Chains: Cadenas

Charm: Encanto

Close to - Next to, Near: Cerca de, Junto a

Concentrate on - Focus on: Concentrarse en, Enfocarse en

Council: Consejo

Countless - Many, Infinite: Incontables, Infinitos

Customs - Traditions: Costumbres - Tradiciones

D

Dairy Products: Productos lácteos

Damage: Daño, Perjuicio

Depressing - Sad, Miserable: Deprimente - Triste, Miserable

Discussion - Conversation: Discusión